Drawn to the woodcuts prints of late 19th century Edvard Munch (the artist best known for ‘The Scream’), Japanese artist Shiko Munakata and the work of William Blake, John Ryrie has established himself as an adept storyteller through the medium of printmaking.

Ryrie’s “Tantalus” is a revival of an ancient Greek legend. According to the story, Tantalus, a mythological King, was punished for stealing the food of the gods - ambrosia. His punishment was that he was made to stand for eternity, neck deep in water, just below the branch of a fruit tree. When Tantalus tried to eat fruit, the tree would grow beyond his reach. When he tried to drink the water below, it would recede. For his hubris, Tantalus became a target of the gods' ironic sense of humour.

Ryrie is an esteemed printmaker. He was awarded the Grand Prize in the Silk Cut Award for Linocut Prints and a finalist in the Geelong acquisitive print awards, and is represented at the National Gallery of Australia.

A potent re-imagining of an ancient tale, Ryrie's woodcut provides a tantalising opportunity for collectors to reach out, and make 'Tantalus' theirs.

John RYRIE (1961 - )
'Tantalus' 2004
linocut on paper
Image Size: 55 x 33 cm
Dimensions: 80 x 54 cm
Signed: Signed 'John Ryrie', editioned, titled, dated lower margin

Comes with Letter of Provenance
Embossed by Chrysalis Publishing lower right corner.

Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art's image as Excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear to paper or frame. There are no tears to paper margin or disruption to the paint surface.

(c) John Ryrie / Copyright Agency