Sea Praise
Print (Etching/Intaglio on paper) • Dorothea Frade
Style & Movement
Mid-20th Century Modernism / Expressionism
Medium & Technique
Intaglio printmaking technique, possibly color etching or aquatint with wiped ink, featuring white line engraving and hand-tinted green and blue tones
Creation Period
1953
Dimensions & Format
Vertical portrait format, approximately 12 x 24 inches for the plate mark with overall framed dimensions larger
Subject Description
A stylized, graceful female figure in a dynamic pose, reaching upward with arms extended above her head, as if leaping or floating through water or air. The composition emphasizes fluid, continuous white contour lines against a dark, textured background with deep greens and blues.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good condition. The paper shows slight natural aging and toning appropriate for mid-century prints, but the image area and signature remain strong and clear.
Estimated Market Value
$400 - $800
Auction Estimate
$300 - $600
Provenance History
Pencil-signed and numbered in the lower margin ('3/20 Sea Praise', 'Dorothea Frade '53'), indicating a limited edition print directly from the artist's studio. Likely acquired through a mid-century gallery or estate collection.
Art Historical Significance
Representative of mid-20th-century American printmaking, showcasing the expressive use of intaglio techniques to capture movement and lyrical abstraction.
Notable Features
Hand-signed and dated in pencil by the artist in the lower right margin, and titled with edition number (3/20) in the lower left, confirming it is an early limited edition print.
Condition Issues
Minor paper toning visible in the margins and potential light foxing consistent with vintage paper works from the 1950s.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep framed behind UV-protective glass, avoid direct sunlight, and store or display in stable relative humidity to prevent paper degradation.