Portrait Sketch Appraisal

Portrait Sketch of a Young Girl on a Napkin signed 'WYETH'

This item is a framed pencil drawing, specifically a portrait sketch of a young girl, executed on what appears to be a paper napkin. The artwork is characterized by its informal medium and sketch-like quality, suggesting it was created spontaneously. The drawing depicts the head and shoulders of a girl, facing slightly to her right, with a soft, gentle expression. Her hair is rendered with light, curly strokes, framing her face and appearing to have bangs. Her eyes are large and expressive, and her mouth is closed but hints at a slight smile. The lines are fluid and appear to be drawn with a graphite pencil, showing varying degrees of pressure that create subtle shading and form. The artist's signature, 'WYETH', is clearly visible in the lower right quadrant of the napkin, rendered in a cursive yet legible hand. The napkin itself is off-white and shows signs of age, including wrinkling and some discoloration, consistent with its material and the nature of its collection. There are multiple layers of what seem to be napkins beneath the primary drawing, visible along the left edge, giving the piece a somewhat three-dimensional, textured quality within its framing. The sketch is currently housed under glass within a simple, narrow, silver-toned metal frame, which has a slightly ornate, etched pattern on its visible edge, adding a touch of formality to the otherwise casual artwork. The overall condition of the napkin shows some creasing and possibly minor staining expected from its informal origin and age, but the drawing itself appears largely intact. Given the context provided, this piece belongs to the Modern American Art period, likely mid-20th century, reflecting the signature style and spontaneous approach of Andrew Wyeth.