An Almanac of Twelve Sports: November (Boxing) - William Nicholson

A striking woodcut print by William Nicholson from his 1898 series, An Almanac of Twelve Sports, depicting a boxing match for the month of November.

This woodcut print is a plate from the 1898 publication, An Almanac of Twelve Sports, which featured verses by Rudyard Kipling alongside illustrations by William Nicholson. The series captures various sporting activities associated with the months of the year, with this particular image representing November through the sport of boxing. Nicholson utilised a distinct aesthetic for this series, employing bold, simplified forms and a restricted colour palette. The composition relies on the contrast between the dark, solid silhouettes of the boxers and the lighter, neutral background. By using large areas of black ink, Nicholson creates a sense of weight and physical presence, focusing on the tension of the match rather than fine detail. The figures are rendered with minimal lines, yet their postures convey the dynamic movement and aggression inherent in the sport. This work reflects the graphic design sensibilities of the late nineteenth century, where the influence of Japanese woodblock prints encouraged artists to experiment with flat planes of colour and strong outlines. Nicholson was a master of this technique, often using a limited range of tones to achieve maximum visual impact. The print is characteristic of his approach to illustration, which prioritised clarity and character over decorative excess. The inclusion of the word November at the base of the print serves as a direct reference to the almanac format, grounding the sporting scene within the structure of the calendar year. This piece is a fine example of British graphic art from the turn of the century, demonstrating how commercial illustration could achieve a high level of artistic merit through economy of means and careful composition.