Louise Bird 'Black Shuck the Devil's Dog'
Mezzotint with Hand Tinting.
Edition: 9/30.
There is something captivating about contrast – light against dark, mystery against revelation. Louise Bird's striking mezzotint with hand tinting, Black Shuck the Devil's Dog (Edition 9/30), draws us into one of East Anglia's most enduring and chilling legends.
Black Shuck is the spectral black dog said to haunt the lanes, coastlines and churchyards of Suffolk and Norfolk. Described as a huge black hound with piercing, glowing eyes, Shuck has stalked local folklore for centuries. The most famous tale dates to 4th August 1577, when, during a violent thunderstorm, the creature was said to have burst into churches at Bungay and Blythburgh, leaving terror, tragedy and legend in its wake. Even today, visitors to Holy Trinity Church in Blythburgh are shown marks on the church door that folklore attributes to the Devil's Dog.
Louise Bird captures this legendary creature with remarkable intensity. Emerging from a field of subtle tones, the dark form of Black Shuck seems to materialise from the shadows, its pale eyes fixed firmly on the viewer. The rich blacks achievable through the traditional mezzotint process create a dramatic contrast that perfectly suits the folklore's atmosphere of mystery and menace.
A haunting piece inspired by Suffolk's rich heritage, this hand-tinted mezzotint is available from Mill Tye Gallery.
Louise Bird 'Black Shuck the Devil's Dog' Mezzotint
Mezzotint with hand tinting.
Printed on Hahnemuhle etching paper and comes with acid free backing paper and mount.
Paper and mount size approx. 170 x 225mm
Image size approx 50 W x 95 H (mm).
Edition No. 9/30Please allow at least two weeks for your print to be delivered.
