A lithograph by Laurence Scarfe from 1951.
This work is called ‘The Bird Boy’.

I had thought that I’d read that Scarfe was born idle, but it turns out that he was born in Idle, outside Bradford.

This work was created to be sold to coincide with the Festival of Britain, for which Scarfe had created two large murals.
It might also have been part of the brilliant Art for Schools initiative, which should never have been discontinued.

Laurence Scarfe was an artist and illustrator.
He created a number of works for London Underground and illustrated many books.

These don’t seem to come up too often and can command high prices when they do. I can only find one other for sale, for considerably more!
I think the V & A have one, and the Tate has a collection of Scarfes’ work.

This is maybe a little faded, and has a few foxing spots, but it really is wonderful.
The frame might be original, so I’ll keep it as it is for now. It works with the print, but it might benefit from replacing.

Signed and dated 1951.

£425.