The artwork is a woodcut created by Eric Gill in 1915, entitled “Woodcut Showing Hammersmith.” It serves as an illustration for Hilary Pepler’s book, “The Devil’s Devices, Or, Control Versus Service.” This piece belongs to the Art Deco movement and falls under the genre of illustration.
In the depiction, a three-story house labeled “No. 27” stands prominently on the left, adorned with stylized plants and a checkered path leading to its door. To the right, a figure sits outdoors, engaged in reading or writing, with a backdrop of hanging laundry and an elaborately patterned sky indicating movement and dynamism. The use of sharp lines, intricate patterns, and contrast between light and shadow reflects the distinct features of the Art Deco style, while each element is presented with clarity and precision characteristic of woodcut techniques. The artwork combines a domestic scene with geometric and decorative aspects, instilling a sense of everyday life harmonized with artistic stylization.
