Michael Rothenstein was a painter and printmaker, born in Hampstead, London, the younger son of Sir William Rothenstein. Always referred to as Michael, he studied at evening classes at Chelsea School of Art, 1923 and the Central School of Arts and Crafts, 1924-1927 and held his first solo exhibition at Matthiesen Gallery, London, in 1938. In 1926 he contracted a debilitating illness from which he never fully recovered; during the Second World War he was employed by the Pilgrim Trust in the Recording Britain project. In the years immediately following World War II his work was also reproduced in the ""Pictures for School"" series. By the early 1950s he has all but abandoned painting in favour of printmaking and in 1957 made three short visits to Paris to work with Stanley William Hayter at the Atelier 17. On his return he set up a studio at Great Bardfield, Essex. He was elected an Associate of the RA in 1977 and a full member in 1980. In 1985 he was also elected an Honorary Fellow of the RE and he was also a member of the Printmakers Council.