Print of the Month - May 2022

Blowing Bubbles

At a time of industrialisation in the mid 19th century, when many people were moving to the cities to find work, this sort of sentimental scene was very popular.

Published by Le Blond & Co. using the Baxter Process. Abraham Le Blond was one of George Baxter's few licensees.

Le Blond published a total of 32 Ovals of a similar size between 1853 and 1870. Blowing Bubbles was the fifth in the series to be published.

They were all printed directly onto plain paper which was then embossed to form a border around the print with a title and number below.

Each print usually has at least one signature towards the bottom edge. Some ovals can be found unsigned, but most are signed "Le Blond & Co., London" and many also carry the signature "L. A. Elliot & Co., Boston, U.S."

L. A. Elliot & Co. was a print selling business set up by Lucius Elliot and trading under this name from 1875 to 1884. They imported and distributed Le Blond's prints in the USA.

The inspiration for most, if not all, the Ovals (including this one) were paintings by the artist John Anthony Puller. The prints are practically identical to the paintings both in content and size. See our July 2012 Feature.

Size 5 1/8 x 6 1/2 inches approx. Le Blond number 74.