Edgar Holloway

1914 – 2008

Edgar Holloway was a key figure in the etching revival of the 1930s; he was one of the very few artists not to turn their back on etching after the market collapsed. By the age of twenty, he had been given two solo exhibitions in London, his work had been purchased by the V&A and the British Museum, and T. S. Eliot, Stephen Spender and Herbert Read were among the many who sat for him for their portraits.

In 1949, he joined the Guild of St. Joseph and St. Dominic on Ditchling Common established by Eric Gill, working solely in graphic design until 1969 when his interest in etching was rekindled. Holloway's etchings and engravings form a visual diary of his family, friends and travels and include a remarkable series of etched self portraits made between 1930 and 1995.

His Self Portrait No.6 was purchased by curator Sidney Greenslade in 1934, but the opportunity to acquire 14 more Holloway etchings representing the intervening years did not arise until Robert Meyrick was invited to curate a national travelling exhibition of his work in 1994. The artist has since generously donated further examples of his prints to the Collection, including many rare, sometimes unique, impressions