Mid-Century Modern Figurative Charcoal and Pastel Drawing

This is a framed figurative artwork of a female figure, likely rendered in charcoal and pastel or chalk on paper. The piece features a gestural, expressionistic style with a limited color palette of burnt sienna, earthy browns, and smoky blacks, accented by white highlights for form. The figure is depicted with a simplified, almost ethereal face and is holding what appears to be a flute or vertical instrument. The execution suggests a mid-20th-century origin (circa 1950s-1970s), characterized by soft, blended transitions and bold, sweeping outlines that emphasize fluid movement rather than anatomical precision. The artwork is housed behind glass in a tiered wooden frame with a gold-toned inner fillet and a light-gray painted outer profile that exhibits some minor surface wear and age-related patina. Visible scuffs are present on the frame edges, and some minor discoloration or foxing may be present on the matting and paper, consistent with age. This work demonstrates a high level of draftsmanship through its confident use of negative space and atmospheric shading, typical of post-war figurative modernism.