The Tram to Haworth

We found a black and white photo in an RE album that shows the original cropping of this work. See the image below. 

The big surprise is that the painting was once nearly twice the height it is now.  A section of carefully painted rock has been sawn off from the bottom of the composition. The effect has been to concentrate the image and bring the tram into focus, which before had been an almost incidental detail at the top of the picture. The hook at the end of the crane cable has been added, and a gate painted into …

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We found a black and white photo in an RE album that shows the original cropping of this work. See the image below. 

The big surprise is that the painting was once nearly twice the height it is now.  A section of carefully painted rock has been sawn off from the bottom of the composition. The effect has been to concentrate the image and bring the tram into focus, which before had been an almost incidental detail at the top of the picture. The hook at the end of the crane cable has been added, and a gate painted into the tram's doorway. The figure on the cliff was made much darker and less obvious than in the original.

The photo also allows us to finally date the painting accurately. The bit that was cut off was signed and dated lower right 'R. Eurich. '68'. He signed the cut down version but did not date it.

When the painting was first exhibited at Tooth's in 1970 its dimensions were listed as 76 x 61 cm. When it was shown at the Fine Art Society in 1977 it was listed with its present dimensions approx 46 x 60 cm. This gives us a rough idea of when the amputation was performed.

This is not the only instance of a drastic amputation of a painting. See Thunderstorm over London (1959-60).