Louis Armstrong (Linocut Print)

A hand carved, handprinted linocut print of legendary the wonderful Ol’ Satchmo, made during Black History Month 2020.

Louis Armstrong always makes me smile. I hope my interpretation of him brings you joy, too!

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901, and became one of the most influential figures in jazz history, despite (or, perhaps, because of) having a difficult start to life.

His father abandoned the family when Louis was a baby, and his mother frequently turned to prostitution, so young Louis was largely brought up by his grandmother. When he was 11, he fired his stepfather’s gun in the air on New Year’s Eve and was immediately arrested and sent to the ‘Colored Waif’s Home for Boys’. During his two years at the home he was taught how to play the cornet, fell in love with it, and the rest is history. His career spanned from the 1920s through to the 1960s.

Known best for his sublime trumpet playing, yet his final memorable single ‘What A Wonderful Life’, released in 1967, was unusual in that there was no trumpet - just his trademark gravelly voice. It made number one across the world.

He continued to practise the trumpet every day, but in his latter years Louis Armstrong suffered with his heart. In 1971, he died in his sleep, at home, aged 69. I can only imagine how cool Heaven must be, with Satchmo playing his heart out up there on a cloud, continuing to bring joy to all around with his mellow, smiling face!

🎺

As with all handmade items, each one will vary slightly making it completely unique.
I use only water-based ink for environmental reasons.

ITEM SPECIFICS:
This design is a signed, limited edition print.
It is printed with water-based ink on Sunome Senaka, a fine 52gsm Japanese printmaking paper approximately 400x275mm in size. I use only water-based ink for environmental reasons.
The image itself measures roughly 150x210mm.