The Making of the Paula Rego's The Nursery Rhymes

This article looks at the series of etchings and aquatints entitled The Nursery Rhymes that Paula Rego made in 1989 in collaboration with printer Professor Paul Coldwell. Whilst she had already had some printmaking experience, The Nursery Rhymes constituted her first major engagement with printmaking. The article considers the circumstances under which the prints were made, both in terms of her personal circumstances and her professional standing, and examines their reception and continuing popularity. It also gives personal insights and commentary on the series, looking at both her iconography and her connection to a wide range of graphic work. It does so from the author’s unique perspective as the printer and collaborator in the project and offers insights into the working relationship between artist and printer.