Irish Cottage and Drystone Wall
Original Print, Intaglio on Paper • Attributed to Tom Byrne (Irish, Contemporary)
Style & Movement
Contemporary Irish Landscape / Realism with Folk influences
Medium & Technique
Hand-colored etching with aquatint. The piece features fine line work for the cottage and stone walls, paired with grain-like aquatint textures in the sky and ground. It is hand-signed and numbered in graphite.
Creation Period
Late 20th to early 21st Century (c. 1990–2010)
Dimensions & Format
Small format, approximately 10 x 15 cm (image size), vertical portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A rural Irish landscape featuring a white-washed cottage with a red roof, a traditional drystone wall, and a wooden gate. A dirt path leads toward the dwelling. The composition focuses on the rustic, serene isolation of the Irish countryside, common in the artist's thematic interest in Connemara or the West of Ireland.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent. The paper appears bright and the ink saturation is high. No visible foxing or yellowing is present on the visible margins.
Estimated Market Value
$150 - $350 USD
Auction Estimate
$100 - $200 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired from a commercial gallery in Ireland or a regional print fair. The edition mark 'AP VI/XX' indicates it was part of an Author's Proof (Artist's Proof) run of 20, separate from the main numbered edition.
Art Historical Significance
Tom Byrne is a well-regarded contemporary Irish artist. This piece represents the modern continuation of the Irish landscape tradition, focusing on the preservation of rural identity and vernacular architecture within the printmaking medium.
Notable Features
Numbered 'AP VI/XX' in the lower left corner and signed 'T Byrne' in the lower right. The inclusion of the 'AP' mark (Artist's Proof) often makes the print more desirable for collectors as it is historically associated with the artist's personal archive.
Condition Issues
None visible. The paper edges are clean and the plate mark is well-defined without compression damage.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be framed using archival-quality (acid-free) matting and UV-protective glass. Avoid displaying in direct sunlight to prevent fading of the hand-tinted pigments.