AL HIRSCHFELD WAS KNOWN AS THE LINE KING BECAUSE HE  HAD THE ABILITY TO COMPRESS INTO A FEW SLASHING LINES THE QUINTESSENCE OF HIS SUBJECT.  FOR HIM SIMPLICITY WAS THE HALLMARK OF BEAUTY AND HE TRANSFORMED CARICATURE INTO A NOBLE CRAFT THAT DELIGHTS OUR EYES AND MAKES US SMILE. FOR OVER 75 YEARS HIS FANS ENJOYED HIS DRAWINGS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.  

Albert Hirschfeld (1903-2003) Hand-Signed Vintage 1981 Limited Edition Etching On Arches Paper: Mikhail Baryshnikov in Giselle, "HIRSCHFELD", lower right, "100/150", lower left, both in pencil, image size 12 5/8 x 8 7/8, paper size 20 x 15, this work is in celebration of the first of the full-length 19th-century ballets revised by Mikhail Baryshnikov for American Ballet Theater's 1981 season at the Metropolitan Opera House, by the American caricaturist best known for his black and white portraits of celebrities and Broadway stars. He started young and continued drawing to the end of his life, thus chronicling nearly all the major entertainment figures of the 20th century. His art style is unique, and he is considered to be one of the most important figures in contemporary caricature having influenced countless cartoonists. Hirschfeld's caricatures are almost always drawings of pure line with simple black ink on white paper with little to no shading or crosshatching. His drawings always manage to capture a likeness using the minimum number of lines. Hirschfeld started young and continued drawing to the end of his life, thus chronicling nearly all the major entertainment figures of the 20th century. Al Hirschfeld's fine art has been exhibited in major museums around the world and can be found in some of the most prestigious public and private collections worldwide. Please note this is an original 1981, hand-signed etching and is currently being offered on the publisher's website at $4400. This etching was produced, with the highest quality, by George J. Goodstadt Fine Art Publishers. They have earned a reputation in the art world for professionalism and a degree of excellence in lithographic printmaking. They commissioned Pen and Ink drawings and published many Limited Edition Lithographs and Etchings of Al Hirschfeld’s work from 1975 until 2002 and are offered exclusively by them. Each etching in the edition was hand-pulled on heavy 100% acid free Arches paper and is hand-signed by Al Hirschfeld. This wonderful hand-signed and numbered Hirschfeld etching remains bright and fresh.  #11979

Certificate of Authenticity