October Piece

Peter Milton

A fine example of Milton's earlier work, using photography as a reference to create surreal, intricate images. Milton uses various intaglio methods to create this composition: lift-ground etching, hard-ground etching and engraving, all using copper plates.

In the book "The Complete Printmaker" by Ross/Romano "October Piece" is illustrated on page 98. Milton describes in detail the processes he used to create the image. At the end of the article he states: "I do not use photographs extensively, but only to draw from. In "October Piece" I spent around 3-4 months on the pre-acid drawing stage and 2-3 months on the post-acid engraving."

In the catalogue raisonnés of his prints Milton also comments on this work: "Ten of the 12 trial proofs (1/10 - 10/10) were pulled at mid-edition when it became necessary to refine work in the faces."

The total edition for "October Piece" was 125 plus 12 trial proofs, 15 artist's proofs, 2 printers proofs and 4 impressions from the second state.

In 1980 the artist reprinted another edition of " October Piece" an edition of 30 impressions, printed by Robert Townsend with a yellow plate tone that appeared as chine collé. The figures were reworked a bit in this second printing.