Willie Rodger: Wee Cuddle

Willie Rodger (1930-2018) linocuts observed the Scottish world with a kindly and amusing eye. The lightness of the spirit belies the calculation of the design and the sheer craftsmanship of his selected medium.

As the artist himself reflected, “I enjoy the discipline of lino, the simplicity. It’s a clean-cut medium. You have to think clearly before cutting. One slip and it’s ruined. There’s no pussyfooting around.”

Translated into tapestry, Wee Cuddle has an even greater impact without losing the spirit of Rodger’s prints. Illustrating a man and a woman embracing in a ‘wee cuddle’ under moonlight, the rendering of the figures from the long-fingered hands to the shoes pointing in the same direction is both affectionate and witty. The distinctive style of the artist and the interpretation of Weaver Emily Fogarty come together to form a striking composition.