Wendell Black Drypoint Etching, 'Elaine'

Story

Created during the post-war printmaking boom, this piece captures the era's obsession with psychological portraiture. Wendell Black used a diamond-tipped needle to scratch directly into metal, capturing a fleeting, elegant tension.

Maker / Origin

Wendell Black (1919-2003) was a highly respected American printmaker and long-time professor of art at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he established a robust printmaking department. He studied under the legendary Mauricio Lasansky at the University of Iowa, inheriting a rigorous, expressive approach to intaglio printmaking that influenced generations of Western artists.

Condition & Value

The print appears to be in very good condition with clean margins, strong contrast, and no obvious signs of foxing, staining, or tearing. Excellent preservation of the delicate drypoint burr indicates this print was stored away from direct light, which helps maintain its maximum market value.