<b>CHINESE MATRIARCH</b>Elizabeth Keith1934<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

This striking portrait of a Chinese woman may perhaps be the artist’s finest color etching. The portrait features a seated woman with a subtle and enigmatic expression. Her raised eyebrows and piercing eyes seek out something from afar, well beyond the viewer’s grasp. All the while, her face plays host to the rumor of a smile. The subject is dressed in a humble but warm fur-lined coat, no doubt constructed for the rigors of village life. Keith’s skill beyond woodblock printing is laid bare for all to witness in this design. The skillful use of color and light yields a highly effective volumetric shading that breathes life into this work. 

Connoisseur's Note

Chinese Matriarch is among Keith’s most sought-after designs and rarely comes up for sale in this state of preservation. Miles, in his reference, Elizabeth Keith: The Printed Works, indicates this print to be among the artist's rarest designs, executed in fewer than 25 impressions.