Psyche Throwing Herself into the River - William Morris
Archival giclée
Ready to hang
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Made to order
Description
A striking wood engraving by William Morris, depicting a scene from the myth of Cupid and Psyche with expressive line work.
This wood engraving depicts a scene from the story of Cupid and Psyche, a narrative that occupied William Morris for several years during the 1860s. Morris intended to produce an illustrated edition of his epic poem, The Earthly Paradise, featuring numerous designs by himself and Edward Burne-Jones. While the project remained unfinished in its entirety, the preparatory drawings and engravings reveal the stylistic direction Morris pursued during this period. The composition focuses on the figure of Psyche, captured in a moment of despair. Her posture is bent, with her arms raised to her head, suggesting a state of emotional exhaustion. The surrounding environment is rendered with rhythmic, parallel lines that define the undulating terrain and the movement of the water. Morris employs a dense hatching technique to create contrast between the dark, atmospheric sky and the lighter, textured ground. The lines are deliberate and graphic, reflecting the influence of medieval manuscript illumination and early printed books, which Morris collected and studied with great care. Unlike his later, more decorative wallpaper designs, this work prioritises narrative clarity and emotional weight. The figure is integrated into the environment through the consistent use of line work, which unifies the foreground and background. The stark black and white palette emphasises the graphic quality of the wood engraving process, a medium Morris championed for its honesty and directness. This print offers a glimpse into the collaborative artistic environment of the Pre-Raphaelite circle, where literature and visual art were closely linked. It remains a clear example of Morris's early graphic work, demonstrating his interest in classical mythology and his technical approach to book illustration before he turned his attention toward the Kelmscott Press.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. EU customers have a 14-day cooling-off right. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Psyche Throwing Herself into the River - William Morris
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Choose poster, framed print, canvas or framed canvas
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
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Artist Biography
William Morris
Morris learned his craft through a unique blend of academic study, artistic collaboration and hands-on experimentation. While at Oxford University he immersed himself in medieval literature and architecture, forging lifelong friendships with Pre-Raphaelite painters who shared his passion for nature and medieval aesthetics. After graduation he studied pattern making, dyeing and weaving techniques by working directly with artisans and by founding the firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. in 1861. This workshop-school model allowed Morris to develop his signature style—melding historic motifs with innovative colour palettes—while training a generation of craftsmen in hand block printing and tapestry weaving.
He became known for his most popular artworks through an enduring series of textile and wallpaper patterns that remain iconic today. Designs such as Strawberry Thief, inspired by thrushes in his own kitchen garden; Willow Bough, with its dancing branch motif; and Trellis, featuring interlacing vines, exemplify the seamless blend of function and beauty at the heart of Morris & Co. These bestselling William Morris wallpaper designs and fabric prints were exhibited at international fairs and commissioned for country houses and town residences throughout Britain and beyond. By combining rich botanical imagery with meticulous handcraft techniques, Morris's most popular artworks set new standards in decorative design and continue to influence interior trends worldwide.
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