PRINT INFORMATION: GRAY LADY SOLID PLATE LITHOGRAPH
TITLE: “GRAY LADY: CLASSIC VISIONS” (UNLIMITED EDITION POSTER)
CLASSIFICATION: SOLID-PLATE LITHOGRAPH
PRINT TYPE: Posthumously-Released Open Edition Poster
COLORS: 16
RELEASED BY: Mirage Editions, Inc.
PRINTED BY: unknown
RELEASE DATE: circa 1990, as it is the highest catalog number of any Nagel print with NAGP103
EDITION SIZE:
-HAND SIGNED AND NUMBERED: None
-SIGNED IN PLATE (UNSIGNED): Open/Undefined
DIMENSIONS:
-Print: 24″ x 34″ including borders
-Actual Image Area: 19 3/4″ x 34″
How to which version you are looking at if I find one for sale online!
If you see a Gray Lady framed with the borders covered up and nothing indicating the dimensions, how can you tell them apart?
There are a few ways you will be able to know what you are looking at:
- the Classic Visions version actual image area is 34” wide versus 44″ wide for the lifetime-released version
- The Classic Visions version has 16 (Wow, even I had same reaction!) colors compared to the 9 in the serigraph. Nagel-Angel (NA) says he thinks maybe all those shades of gray in the hair! His comparison here:
- The Classic Visions version has all gray hair and the wisps of hair have five shades of gray compared to three in the lifetime-released serigraph.
- The Classic Visions version has several more gray wisps of hair and they are all gray. (NA counted 9 compared to 5 in the graphic, and all those in the graphic are black.)
- The Classic Visions version model has more of a crook to her right eyebrow (on our left).
- The Classic Visions version has slightly different highlights and shadows on the lips. Note the shadow directly under the lower lip. The CV version has a shadow that curves down to reinforce the chin. The lifetime-releases serigraph version only has a shadow under the lower lip that follows the shape of the lower lip.
- The Classic Visions version has a plate signature on the far left side of the image. It is the circa 1984 Nagel signature.
- Below is the signed-in-plate signature on the Classic Visions version of Gray Lady. This version Nagel’s signature only appears on posthumously-released prints: If you see it on any Nagel print, you know that print was released after Pat died.
All the Classic Visions prints have text on the border to identify the print as being part of Classic Visions Collection and it states how they vary from the lifetime-release prints. The Classic Visions Collection on Gray Lady text reads as follows:
“Classic Visions Collection Gray Lady published exclusively by Mirage Editions Incorporated Santa Monica, California. Copyright 1982 Mirage Editions printed in the USA. This is a 16 color solid-plate lithograph released to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Mirage Editions Incorporated. The original version of this poster was the serigraph in a different size and design format.”
The inventory number is noted as NAGP103, which on their 1991 price list suggest it is the last Nagel they published.
Again, as I said in my Gray Lady Limited Edition Graphic post. This is the one CV that is possibly worthy of purchase until you can find the real thing. It could take a while and any Gray Lady is better than none. Truly a favorite!