David Young Cameron – The Master Printmaker

30/07/2019     British & International Pictures, Scottish Contemporary Art

As a leading figure in the British Etching Revival, David Young Cameron was one of the most in demand printmakers of the early twentieth century. It is estimated he produced over 500 etchings and drypoints in his career, and at the height of the Etching Revival one piece sold for a then record breaking £640 in 1929 (that’s equivalent to £36,000 today!). The financial crash and as a result, the collapse of the print market saw prices for contemporary prints fall drastically, and it’s a market which has still to this day struggled to recover.

 

 

Like many of his contemporaries, Cameron sought to portray the Scottish landscape in all its forms, but his success as a printmaker meant he could afford to travel widely and capture new subjects. He had an interest in churches, museums and the backstreets of European towns, and lot 404 is a strong example of Cameron's architectural compositions. We see a street view in Amboise, France of a clock tower and surrounding apartments, and Cameron uses rich, dark tones to create a sombre effect. His superb attention to detail demonstrates his experience in capturing architectural subjects and is a testament to his popularity as a printmaker. Lot 404 carries an auction estimate of £80 - 120.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Young Cameron is a regular feature in our picture auctions, and we have sold a number of his etchings with consistent hammer prices ranging from £60 to £160. These pieces demonstrate Cameron’s skill and passion for printmaking as well as the variety in his chosen subject matter. Do you have prints by the masters of Scottish printmaking you are curious about? For a free valuation please contact pictures@mctears.co.uk

 

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Jenny MacLeod

 

If you have pictures you wish to sell, please contact pictures@mctears.co.uk

 

 

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