From a Private Collection

Cut was printed by Roy Crosset at the Royal College of Art in London in early 1964, just prior to Billy permanently moving from London to New York. Billy described Roy as a ‘tradesman printer’. He was a master printer and he used a small scale proofing off-set lithograph printer to produce this work. Roy printed a number of other early works for Billy. Billy brushed the ink directly onto the zinc plate; a rare example of this ‘artist’s hand’ on the finished work. The paper chosen was hand made. The whole process was directed by Billy and an edition of 25 numbered and signed (in graphite) works were printed. Billy had met Andy Warhol on this second trip to New York in 1962. Warhol was to embrace the technologies of mechanical reproduction as Billy did with Cut and Billy continued to do so for the rest of his life. The green Orchard Services canvas is an example of this where the concepts of the work are beautifully captured by utilising an industrial process subverted for art, UV impregnated pigment on canvas. Billy always sought out the best technicians and the latest technologies. Ref: Billy Apple His Life & Works Christina Barton