Barbara Hepworth

Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975) was a pioneering British sculptor, widely recognized for her abstract works that emphasized organic forms and the relationship between space and volume. While best known for her large-scale stone and bronze sculptures, Hepworth was also a prolific printmaker. She began experimenting with printmaking in the 1940s, primarily focusing on lithography, but later expanded to woodcuts and etching. Hepworth's prints, like her sculptures, explored themes of form, balance, and the interplay of negative and positive space. Her prints often mirrored her sculptural practice, with abstract shapes and rhythmic lines evoking the fluidity of natural forms, such as the human body, landscape, and shells. Hepworth’s exploration of texture and depth in her prints reflected her interest in the physicality of materials and the process of making. Through her printmaking, she was able to extend her sculptural language into a new medium, enriching her broader artistic legacy.