The Annunciation and Nativity (Study)
Print on paper, likely a multi-plate etching or drypoint collage • Ernest Freed (American, 1908-1974)
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Modern / American Modernism with Byzantine and Cubist influences
Medium & Technique
Intaglio print (etching or drypoint) with colored inks (blue, yellow-ochre, and black); uses multiple plates printed onto a single sheet of cream wove paper.
Creation Period
1967
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 8 inches for the image area, vertical portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A tri-partite religious composition featuring the Archangel Gabriel (in blue), a haloed Virgin Mary (in yellow), and a seated Christ or Nativity figure (in black). The style blends classical iconography with expressive, scratchy line work and modernist geometric simplification.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; visible mild yellowing/toning of the paper consistent with age and exposure to non-acid-free matting. Some scuffing on the black metal frame.
Estimated Market Value
$400 - $700
Auction Estimate
$300 - $500
Provenance History
Signed and dated '67 lower left. Likely acquired via a private collection or university estate, common for Freed’s works which are frequently found in academic and regional American museum collections.
Art Historical Significance
Ernest Freed was a significant figure in the mid-century printmaking movement in Los Angeles and at Otis Art Institute. This piece reflects his technical experimentation with color intaglio and his interest in reinterpreting religious archetypes through a modern lens.
Notable Features
Hand-signed signature lower left; distinctive use of overlapping or adjacent plate marks to create a modular narrative composition.
Condition Issues
Toning and acid-burn lines along the mat borders; slight paper undulation; frame shows some wear and may not be archival.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional reframing with acid-free, archival matting and UV-protective glass to prevent further yellowing and degradation of the colored inks.