Feet on Holiday II
- Artist: Henry Moore OM, CH
- Date: 1979
- Medium: Lithograph on paper
- Dimensions: image: 215 x 255 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is the “Feet on Holiday II” by Henry Moore. The work is a lithograph on paper from 1979, printed at the Curwen Studio and released by Raymond Spencer for the Henry Moore Foundation in a very small edition of 50. Two copies sit side‑by‑side, each about 8 ¾ by 10 inches, and both are signed ‘Moore’ at the base with a note saying ‘For the Tate Gallery’.
Moore’s hand is unmistakable: clean, sculptural lines that capture the relaxed posture of a man’s feet, sprawled on a beach as if he’s just stepped out of a boat or from the shoreline. The scene is simple—just the foot, a hint of sun, a suggestion of a sea breeze—but there’s a playful, almost humorous tone to it. It’s a quick snapshot of leisure, a reminder of the quiet moments we all share on holiday.
The lithograph technique gives the figure a soft, almost paper‑like texture, while the subtle shadows bring a three‑dimensional quality that feels very Moore, even though it’s a flat print. The composition invites you to imagine the warm sand beneath the toes, the distant gulls, the gentle lapping of water. It’s a brief, charming glimpse into a leisurely day by the sea, captured through the eyes of one of Britain’s most celebrated sculptors.
See it in person
Feet on Holiday II is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
