Rat Catcher

Ratcatcher

Original black-and-white illustration by Marcellus Hall featuring Ratcatcher, an acclaimed film by Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay about a 12-year-old boy living in Glasgow, Scotland, during a national garbage collectors’ strike in 1973. Ramsay is said to have auditioned more than 1,000 children for the lead role before landing upon William Eadie, chosen for his open, expressive face—captured perfectly by Marcellus here with just a few simple lines.

Ink and gouache on 8” x 11.5” Strathmore 400 series drawing paper. The dangling rat and the image of the boy are drawn on separate pieces pasted onto the final drawing. Marcellus’s initials appear in the lower right corner of the image. The reverse side contains handwritten notes referencing the film, the dates of creation and publication of the piece, and Marcellus’s stamped return address. A protective cover sheet is taped to the reverse side which folds over the front of the image. Excellent condition.