Girl Holding Up Her Necklace 1760

Thomas Frye's "Girl Holding Up Her Necklace" is a mezzotint, an intaglio printmaking technique that produces soft, tonal values. Created in 1760, the work captures a young woman's profile as she gazes to her right, her hand delicately holding a necklace. The use of chiaroscuro, the contrast of light and dark, creates a dramatic depth and sense of realism. The print is a testament to Frye's mastery of the mezzotint process and his ability to render the delicate features of the sitter with great precision. The work is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.