Hibel Print Appraisal

Signed Mother and Child Etching by Edna Hibel

This artwork is a framed etching or lithograph on stone-colored paper featuring a mother tenderly holding a child, a signature subject of the renowned American artist Edna Hibel. The piece is executed in a delicate sanguine or sepia-toned ink, characterized by Hibel's distinctive fluid, rhythmic line work and soft, ethereal cross-hatching. The mother is depicted in profile with her hair in a long braid, wearing a patterned garment, while the child looks toward the viewer with rounded, expressive features. The composition measures approximately 12 by 16 inches within the mat, though total framed dimensions are larger. It is hand-signed in pencil at the bottom right as 'Hibel' and possesses an edition number or title inscription at the bottom left, though the specific numbering is obscured by the glass glare. The artwork is housed in a contemporary silver-toned metal or wood frame with a white bevel-cut mat. Regarding condition, the paper appears well-preserved with no immediate signs of foxing or water damage, though some light undulation is visible, suggesting it may not be dry-mounted. The style is mid-to-late 20th century, likely dating from the 1970s or 1980s. The craftsmanship displays high technical skill in figurative draughtsmanship, typical of the artist's sentimental and humanist aesthetic.