Stanley William Hayter (British 1901-1988) Limited Edition Soft Ground Etching Printed in Colours “Saddle” Ed. 36/100, pencil signed lower right S.W. Hayter, ’70, edition # lower left, titled lower middle; sans frame

Image 17 in. x 21 ½ in. Overall 22 in. x 29 ¾ in.

Born in London to a family of painters, Stanley Hayter chose instead to study geology and chemistry and then worked for a Persian Gulf oil company. However, he contracted malaria and returned to London to recover, and then moved to Paris in 1926 to study at the Academie Julian. In 1933 in Paris, he established his own studio, the Atelier 17.

At this time he became interested in Surrealism, and opposing Fascism, actively supported the Republican government of the Spanish Civil War.

During World War II, Hayter co-founded the Industrial Camouflage Research Unit in London, and with his associates produced camouflage designs for factories. The squiggly green pattern designs of camouflage was something he had observed in Spain, and he worked creatively on improving this method.

Source:
Roy R. Behrens, Camoupedia, p. 184