ORIENTALIST Etching NORTH AFRICAN WOMAN 1930s American LISTED ARTIST

  
Original etching by Philadelphia artist Edward C. A beautifully atmospheric 1931 North African town scene, probably Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria, showing a woman in an hijab riding a donkey down an ominously dark street. The artist has densely worked the plate to give the darkness a rich velvety texture, it almost resembles a mezzotint. The etching is printed in black ink on cream colored wove paper with good margins and it is signed and dated in pencil by the artist in pencil. The plate measures 7 3/8 X 8 inches, and the full sheet measures 9 1/2 X 11 1/2 inches with some deckle edges. Condition is very good, no tears or foxing and it is mounted on the upper corners with gummed paper hinges within an old folio presentation mat that seems to be acid free rag, does not appear to have ever been framed. Smith worked as an illustrator for both advertising and books as well as being a creator of fine art etchings.

He also worked in watercolors, oils, mosaics, and silk screen. Smith was an instructor at the School of Industrial Art (now the Philadelphia College of Art), the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Moore Institute. He taught etching at Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Haverford School.