Artist Harold Altman Appraisal

The Big Top by Harold Altman - Limited Edition Lithograph

This is a vibrant colorful lithograph titled "The Big Top" by the American artist Harold Altman (1924–2003). The piece depicts a lively circus scene featuring multiple clowns in elaborate costumes, one playing an accordion, alongside a trapeze artist or circus performer in yellow, and a colorful striped ball in the foreground. The artwork utilizes a bold, expressive palette with saturated blues, greens, yellows, and reds, characteristic of mid-to-late 20th-century figurative printmaking. The print is housed in a professional wooden frame with a reddish-brown mahogany finish and an inner beaded detail. It is double-matted with an off-white primary mat and a thin red inner mat that accentuates the colors of the print. Notable markings include the edition number "2/80" in the lower-left corner, the title written in script in the center-bottom, and the artist's signature "H. Altman" in the lower-right corner, all appearing to be in pencil. The condition appears to be excellent with no visible foxing, fading, or water damage to the paper, and the frame shows minimal wear. The craftsmanship of the lithography shows high-quality layering of colors, and the low edition number (2 of 80) suggests a limited and more desirable print run. The style is reminiscent of Altman’s early to mid-career transition into nostalgic, illustrative themes.