Manette Street, Soho

This etching by C.R.W Nevinson evokes the run-down and slightly sinister character of Soho's narrow lanes and courts.

During Nevinson's time as a student at the Slade School of Art, in the years before the First World War, he became familiar with the layout of the city and depicted it in a range of media, including prints. The artist learned a variety of printmaking techniques, which he used to depict cosmopolitan cities such as London, Paris and New York.

The theme of the city continued to occupy the artist throughout his career and he produced numerous works on modern, urban subjects. Although Nevinson was arguably best known for his work as an official War Artist, he was also a well-known painter, printmaker, novelist and journalist. This work is one of several by him in the Museum's collection: others include posters, prints and paintings of London scenes.

Early in his career, Nevinson was associated with the London-based avant garde Vorticist group, which embraced the machine-age and the modern city. However, following his experiences during the First World War, he distanced himself from the movement, producing more traditional picture making methods.