Moshe Gat Print Appraisal

Framed Ink or Lithograph Drawing by Moshe Gat

This artwork is an expressive figurative drawing attributed to Moshe Gat (Israeli, b. 1935), depicting a mother holding a child. The medium appears to be black ink, charcoal, or a high-quality lithographic print on cream-toned paper. The style is characteristic of Gat’s mid-20th-century social realism, featuring bold, gestural lines and wide, melancholic eyes that emphasize human emotion. The artwork is signed 'Moshe Gat' in the lower right and includes Hebrew script in the lower left, likely the artist's name. The piece is professionally matted with a black border that provides high contrast against the light paper, and it is housed in a contemporary gold-leaf or gilded wooden frame. The composition uses stark tonal contrasts, with heavy black washes on the child's clothing and delicate, sketchy outlines for the woman's face. Regarding condition, the paper shows minor age-related toning, though the ink remains vibrant. The frame shows light surface wear but remains structurally sound and elegant, suggesting it was framed for a gallery or private collection in the second half of the 20th century. The craftsmanship is evident in the confident line work and the soulful, direct gaze of the subjects.