The Press Art Collection Saturday, 3 October 2026 / 11:00 am start
Walter Bowring - 'The Whirlpool' Ink & Gouache on Board
Current Bid $10 (1 bid, reserve met)
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Lot Details
Walter Bowring (1874-1931) The Whirlpool Ink and Gouache on Board Signed bottom left on recto and undated 294 x 467mm 'The Press' private archive of Walter Bowring Additional Information: Unframed with drawn border and sketches/notes around border. Marked and Ink stained border, with rough edges on card, including graphite transfer. In a worn condition with no implications to image drawn. Caricature Political Cartoon. The war-related material among Bowring’s works centre around two major conflicts at the turn of the century: the Boer War and the Russo-Japanese war. The 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese war is the focus of seven works of varying subject matter, including political cartoons of tensions between Japan and Russia over territory in Korea and Manchuria as early as 1901. The “whirlpool” depicts the Japanese as the aggressors, advancing on the frightened Russian bear – potentially reflecting the surprise attacks at Port Arthur and Chemulpo Bay that sparked the beginning of the war. Perched precariously on the branch labelled “Neutrality” are four European world leaders. As both an artistic creation and a historical document, the work serves as an important resource for the study of regional history. Images can be directly connected to contemporary reporting in The Press, enhancing their significance when viewed in conjunction with written primary sources. Above all, each piece stands as an engaging and accessible record of its time, inviting collectors and the wider public alike to explore and appreciate Canterbury’s heritage, while reflecting the vital role of the Press in documenting Christchurch during a period of transition and renewal.
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