Title page
Paul Woodroffe
Photomechanical reproduction of pen and ink drawing.
5 x 3 ¼ inches
Songs from the Plays of Shakespeare , illustrated title-page.
Woodroffe produced numerous decorative borders, usually in the congested style of Arts and Crafts illustration, and this design in a good example. Though closely linked to Art Nouveau, the density of the image invokes the rusticity of Morris. The linkage of Shakespeare, Songs and Woodroffe, all printed in red, is an elegant, suggestive touch, implying that the artist is as true a lyricist as the author.
Click on image to enlarge it.
Scanned image and text by Simon Cooke.