"West Virginia Hills" by Blanche Lazzell, Amer., (1878-1956)

Charcoal Drawing, ca. 1919, Block #20, 10-1/4 x 8-3/8, the original preliminary study drawing for Lazzell's early white line color woodcut, on grayish cream wove paper, the entire sheet measuring 12 x 9, slight lightening within mat opening, tack holes to corners, titled by the artist in pencil at lower left, unsigned. This vital drawing exudes an expressionist vigor in execution; sketched directly from nature among the rolling hills of her native Maidsville, West Virginia. Lazzell's short staccato strokes with stumping for atmosphere convey an energy charged landscape of layered, arching hills; their rhythms echoed by the fences in the foreground and bare elliptical trees at center, reaching towards the sky. From the artist's estate, purchased from Martin Diamond Fine Arts circa 1994.