Eileen Alice Soper (1905-1990)
Four Works:

"The Swing," 1921
Etching on laid cream paper, watermark J.Whatman
Signed in pencil in the lower margin, at right: E.A. Soper; titled in pencil on the over mat, lower left
Plate: 5" H x 7" W; Sheet: 7.5" H x 10" W

"The Three Wees," 1918-1921
Etching on laid cream paper
Signed in pencil in the lower margin, at right: E.A. Soper; titled in pencil on the overmat, lower left; with the rose blindstamp on the overmat, lower right
Plate: 5" H x 4" W; Sheet: 9.25" H x 6" W

"Kite Flying," 1921
Etching on laid cream paper
Signed in pencil in the lower margin, at right: E.A. Soper; titled in pencil on the over mat, lower left
Plate: 3.875" H x 6" W; Sheet: 5.75" H x 9.25"

"La Barriere Cassee," 1921
Etching on laid cream paper, watermark England
Signed in pencil in the lower margin, at right: E.A. Soper; titled in pencil on the over mat, lower left
Plate: 5" H x 7" W; Sheet: 8.5" H x 10.75" W

Provenance: The Collection of Frederick W. Davis
Private Collection, Southern California, by descent from the above

Literature: Beetles/Wootton 6 (La Barriere Cassee)
Beetles/Wootton 5 (The Three Wees)

Other Notes: "The Three Wees" was Eileen Alice Soper's first etching, originally executed at the age of thirteen, but not issued until after her first major public exhibition. The model for this etching was a friend named Elaine who appears in a number of Eileen Soper's etchings. The subject was derived from one of E. A. Soper's earliest known drawings in a small pencil sketch of a little boy holding a candle, surprised by the appearance of an equally astonished elf; her father (the etcher George Soper) had painted Eileen's portrait in watercolor surrounded by just such elves.

This etching was released as a direct result of her father's, successful submission of two of her etchings to the Royal Academy of Arts summer exhibition in 1921. As soon as it became apparent that the etcher of these works was a girl of only sixteen Eileen Soper attracted considerable attention and her future success was assured.

"La Barriere Cassee" ("The Broken Gate") is the most elaborate of Eileen Alice Soper's early plates. It was the sheer vivacity of the young Eileen Soper's etchings which gave them their instant appeal. The simple dexterity which she displays with the etched line in "La Barriere Cassee" is truly remarkable for a girl of only fifteen. - Campbell Fine Art Gallery

Each overall good condition. Each with margins. "Three Wees," "Kite Flying," and "La Barriere Cassee" with deckled edges. Each with very pale light staining within the window opening of the mat. "The Swing" with a few pinhead-sized stray marks in the left, upper, and right margins. "La Barriere Cassee" with an unevenly trimmed lower edge and a pinhead-sized stray mark in the center of the upper margin. "Kite Flying" with a pale foxmark in the right margin. Three of the works are hinged to their back mats with pieces of brown paper tape affixed to the verso of the upper margin edge, similar small pieces of tape are affixed to the verso of the right margin edge on "The Three Wees."

Each: Unframed Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.