Bessie Pease Gutmann Appraisal

Framed Print of 'Messengers of Love' by Bessie Pease Gutmann

This item is a framed decorative art print featuring an angelic young girl interacting with a white dove, a motif classic to the work of artist Bessie Pease Gutmann. The artwork is rendered in a soft, impressionistic style with a palette of pastels, primarily blues, whites, and muted greens, accented by vibrant red and pink flowers in the foreground. The child is depicted with blonde hair, a floral crown, and ethereal wings, wearing a flowing blue gown. A white dove is frozen in mid-flight before her against a hazy, atmospheric background. The print is housed under glass and is set within a double-matted border: a plum-colored inner mat with rounded corners and a wider outer mat with a textured, marbled silvery-grey finish. The signature of the artist is visible in the lower right-hand corner. The overall construction suggests a late 20th-century commercial reproduction, likely from the 1980s or 1990s, aimed at the home decor market. The condition appears fair to good; however, there is noticeable light reflection and slight bowing or moisture damage visible at the bottom edge where the print meets the mat, indicated by a wavy distortion. The frame edge visible on the left is a champagne-gold metallic or plastic moulding. The craftsmanship is typical of high-volume decorative retail prints rather than fine art lithography.