This original drypoint and color aquatint is titled "Flower Vendor" and was made by well listed early 20th century California based artist May Gearhart (1872–1951). The signed piece depicts an old lady with a distinctive appearance standing in a cobblestone courtyard hawking her wares. The lady is dressed in a white apron and fringed black shawl worn over a long sleeved blue blouse tied with a black ribbon at the neck. The woman wears a patch over her right eye and also has a jaunty black hat on her head which is topped with spindly feather-like accents. A row of buildings with a European architectural flair are visible behind her in the distance.

The artwork is in very good condition and is housed under glass in its original black wooden frame. The back of the frame retains its original textured black paper lining along with twisted copper wire and a paper label from retailer Marshall Field & Company of Chicago. As an antique item, the piece shows appropriate signs of age consisting of toning to the mat and general wear to the frame including minor paint loss and nicks/scratches, all of which are mentioned for accuracy. The visible portion of the artwork is 5.5" by 3.5" while the framed dimensions are 11.25" by 8.875".

This charming piece would be a great addition to a collection of Gearhart's work, or to a larger grouping of fine art. A terrific find!

Notes on the artist:
According to published biographical information, Gearhart worked mainly in soft-ground color etching and also made block prints, all of which were characterized by simplified forms, stylized drawing, and subtle colors and textures showing influences from the Arts and Crafts movement as well as Japanese art. Her work is held in the permanent collections of several museums including the Smithsonian Institution, the San Francisco Museum of Fine Art and the Los Angeles County Museum among others.