Copper Plate Aquatint Etching “Bountiful Mother” [SOLD]

This etching was executed at El Cerro Graphics in Los Lunas, New Mexico.  It was started on April 19, 1980 and completed on May 30, 1980.  It was handprinted by Ricardo Ximenes, whose chop mark is in lower right.  The print shop’s chop mark is in lower left.  The artist signature is in lower right and the edition number, 32/50 is in lower left.

The image was printed on Arjomari paper in three colors on one press run using three plates.  The image was drawn on plate 1 on a KPR coated plate and established in ferric chloride etch.  Colors are English red, burnt umber, and midnight blue.  Plates 2 and 3 were copper plates cut into shapes and left un-inked.

There were 50 copies made which are known as Artist’s Edition, the copies normally seen on the market for sale, such as this one; 8 copies known as Shop Impressions, which belong to El Cerro Graphics for its own sales; 5 copies known as Artist’s Proofs, given to the artist for her personal distribution; 2 Printer’s Proofs, given to the printer for his own personal property; 1 Presentation Proof, produced to be donated to a museum or other source; 1 Bon a Tirer, which is the copy approved by the artist and to which every other copy must be perfectly matched; 2 Record Impressions which are maintained by the Print Shop as permanent records; and, finally, 2 Cancellation copies which were imperfect.  The copper plates were erased so that no other copies could ever be made.

Helen Hardin had only begun working with the etching process in 1980, so this etching is one of her first, although not the first.  Sue Di Maio, an art dealer from California, Arizona, and Santa Fe, made it her mission to talk Helen Hardin into supplementing her acrylic painting with carefully controlled prints.  She felt that Helen could not keep up with the demand for her art if she only produced original paintings.  At first, Helen was not in agreement.  She agreed to meet with Ricardo Ximenes of El Cerro Graphics for a primer in printmaking.  Helen agreed to give printmaking a try.  Fortunately, she loved it and collectors love her prints.

Condition: framed and in original condition

Provenance: this Copper Plate Aquatint Etching "Bountiful Mother" is from the estate of a former client from Colorado

Recommended Reading: Changing Woman: The Life and Art of Helen Hardin by Jay Scott

Photo of Helen Hardin (1943-1984) Tsa-Sah-Wee-Eh - Little Standing Spruce. Image Source:  the photo copies (of original polaroid’s) of Helen Hardin appear courtesy of the photographer.