Lot 108: Frederick Cook

Sir Walter William (Wally) Herbert (1934-2007) Frederick Cook signed and dated 'Wally Herbert - 1987' (lower left) scalpel and pencil on white artfoil prepared with grey printer’s ink 6 ½ x 4 3/8in. (16.5 x 11.1cm.)

16.5 x 11.1cm.

Acquired from the artist by the present owners.

Herbert described the medium and innovative technique used here and in the following lot: ‘The technique was more artistic than technical – the effect being achieved by drawing the map on a sheet of white artfoil that had been sprayed with a grey printers ink. The mountains and hills on the map were then shaded on the ‘dark’ side with a soft lead pencil, while the sun-facing side of the hill was scraped clean of ink with a result. But fortunately I had come upon it at a time when it had served as a link between the explorer and the creative spirit, and over the next few years I made several drawings using this medium – most of them portraits based on the photos of the men whose paths had crossed with mine.’ (The Polar World, 2007)