Henry Pearson, FACE, Pop Art Lithograph, from Portfolio 9, 1964

 HENRY PEARSON (American, 1914-2006)

"FACE"  from Portfolio 9, 1964

Color Lithograph Composition

Hand Signed and Numbered from the Edition of 100

Irwin Hollander (printer) Blindstamp

Measures: 17 1/2 x 22 1/8" (44.4 x 56.2 cm)

Henry Pearson's iconic Pop Art lithograph "Face" from the mid-Sixties is in the permanent Collection of the Museum of Modern Art - click HERE for link.

This scarce and iconic lithograph composition by Pop Artist Henry Pearson was printed in 1967.

This Classic Sixties psychedelic designed lithograph was created as part of the legendary 'Portfolio 9' in 1967 - one of the most influential eras in 20th century art. It was housed in a gray cloth-colored box with maroon paper inner panels and a large maroon "9" designed by Richard Lindner on the cover. Portfolio 9 featured nine of the most important artists of the era, representative of the three major trends: Pop Art, Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism: Roy Lichtenstein, Saul Steinberg, Richard Lindner, Robert Motherwell, Henry Pearson, Louise Nevelson, Sam Francis, Willem de Kooning- and Ellsworth Kelly. The Introduction to the portfolio was written by Una E. Johnson, Curator of Prints & Drawings, The Brooklyn Museum. Johnson wrote in 1967 for the colophon page: "The artists were selected to demonstrate the great diversity and character of lithography in the United States today...the dialogue of diverse forms and many faceted idioms that compose this graphic journal mirror the eloquence and delight the strengths and caprices of a period. Furthermore, they reflect in fine measure the creative achievements of artists attuned to their time.."

Nearly half a century later, this print has become more scarce, as so many of the 100 are already in the collections of major institutions world wide including the Smithsonian, MOMA and the Albright Knox Gallery. This one, as noted above, is featured as part of MOMA's collection.

The lithograph offered here has superb provenance: it comes directly from 'Portfolio 9', numbered 84/100. This is the very first time since 1967 that this hand signed & numbered print will be separated from the original portfolio presentation box.

According to the description of this print in the catalogue raisonne, "Organized as a celebration of Irwin Hollander's collaboration with American artists working in the medium of lithography, the Portfolio 9 is a compendium of images by nine of Hollander's artist collaborators. ....

This Sixties print is in fine condition; never framed and ready to be floated and framed.