This terrific c. 1960s woodblock print, by the excellent but under-recognized Amaranth Ehrenhalt (American, b.1928-), is really striking from a distance, but even better close up, as the viscerality of the ink becomes apparent. I assume the title, Conifers, points to the materiality of the woodblock surface itself, but perhaps also to elongated two-toned green form that centers the abstract composition.
Ehrenhalt is an American painter, sculptor, and writer who seems to have had a most fascinating life! She is officially recognized as part of the second wave of American Abstract Expressionists, very much part of the Cedar Tavern circle (de Kooning, Kline et al ), then in the 50s moved to Paris, where she was similarly at the center of the artist cafe society, close to Yves Klein, Alberto Burri etc. In subsequent years she lived in Italy and travelled widely, then in 2008 moved back to Manhattan. Her work has been exhibited widely and included in group exhibitions with everyone, including fairly recently in "Shifting Ecologies" (2014) curated by Marianne Van Lent at The Painting Center, New York. Google her for much much more.
12ʺ w × 16ʺ h and in excellent condition. Number 20 from an edition of 50, signed at lower right.
