“She Loves Me,” Mary Vickers, 1975 sepia lithograph, 30x22 in., signed and marked Artist’s Proof.

“She Loves Me,” Mary Vickers, 1975 sepia lithograph, 30x22 in., signed and marked Artist’s Proof.

A heartfelt 1975 Artist’s Proof lithograph by Mary Vickers, She Loves Me portrays a serene moment between a mother and child seated in a garden, collecting flowers together. Rich in emotional warmth, Vickers’ soft sepia linework and expressive figurative style evoke themes of love, tenderness, and peaceful connection, making this AP impression a rare and highly desirable early print.

Artwork Description

She Loves Me exemplifies Mary Vickers’ gift for transforming tender human moments into poetic visual narratives. Here, a mother sits in the grass with her daughter nestled safely in her lap, both absorbed in the simple joy of gathering flowers. Their peaceful expressions and the protective gesture of the mother’s arm convey deep affection, trust, and the timeless bond between parent and child.

Rendered in warm sepia tones, the lithograph showcases Vickers’ masterful control of line: delicate curls in the mother’s hair, the folds of her skirt, the child’s patterned dress, and the softly blooming garden surrounding them. A small picket fence and flowering tree frame the composition, placing the pair in a tranquil domestic landscape—a hallmark of Vickers’ 1970s Romantic figurative work.

As a signed Artist’s Proof, this print is one of a small group traditionally reserved for the artist’s examination before the final edition, making it significantly scarcer than standard numbered impressions. The emotional resonance and refined drawing style mark this lithograph as a quintessential example of Vickers’ most beloved themes: innocence, maternal love, and the poetry of everyday life.

Artist Biography

Mary Vickers (British, mid-20th century) is a figurative artist best known for her emotionally resonant drawings and lithographs depicting children, families, quiet domestic moments, and tender human relationships. Her work became widely collected in the 1970s and early 1980s, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, where her limited-edition prints developed a devoted following.

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Born in England in the 1940s, Vickers showed an early aptitude for drawing, particularly for rendering expressive faces and the subtle gestures of children. She was trained in traditional draftsmanship — a foundation that shaped the delicate, controlled linework seen throughout her lithographs. Although not formally affiliated with one academy, her early influences included British illustrators, Victorian genre painters, and contemporary figurative realists whose work emphasized emotional storytelling.

Development of Her Style

By the late 1960s, Vickers had developed the artistic language that would define her career:

• Sepia-toned drawing and lithography

• Soft hand-coloring applied to selected editions

• Narratives centered on childhood innocence, family bonds, and intimate daily moments

• Highly detailed linework combined with atmospheric shading

Her subjects—children fishing, playing, daydreaming, gardening, or interacting with parents and grandparents—captured universal emotional themes. While sentimental, her work is fundamentally rooted in keen observation, balancing technical precision with tenderness.

Professional Career and International Recognition

In the early 1970s, Vickers’ work came to the attention of the Mitch Morse Gallery, an American fine art publisher specializing in limited-edition lithographs. Recognizing the unique appeal of her figurative style, the gallery entered into an exclusive publishing arrangement with her.

For the next decade:

• All of Mary Vickers’ limited-edition lithographs were published exclusively by Mitch Morse Gallery.

• The gallery supervised edition sizes, printing quality, signing, and hand-coloring.

• Vickers’ work was widely distributed through fine art galleries, framing boutiques, and national art shows across the U.S. and Europe.

This partnership ensured consistency, authenticity, and proper documentation—one reason her editions remain highly collectible today.

Technique and Creative Process

Vickers worked primarily in graphite, sepia pencil, and lithographic crayon, creating highly refined drawings that printers transferred to lithographic plates. Many editions were issued in two formats:

1. Standard lithographs (uncolored)

2. Hand-colored lithographs (painted individually with watercolor or light washes)

Her hand-coloring was subtle, never overpowering the drawing—always reinforcing mood and narrative. Edition sizes were typically 200–275, along with a small number of Artist’s Proofs (AP).

Themes and Artistic Vision

Collectors respond strongly to Vickers’ work because it captures universal human experiences:

• Childhood wonder and formative experiences

• Family relationships across generations

• Quiet reflection and interior emotional worlds

• The poetic beauty of everyday life

Rather than idealizing children, she portrayed them with psychological honesty—thoughtful, curious, sometimes lonely, sometimes joyful.

Legacy and Collector Significance

Today, Mary Vickers’ lithographs are sought after for:

• Their technical excellence

• Their emotional accessibility

• The consistency and integrity of her limited editions

• Their nostalgic cultural value as icons of 1970s figurative art

Her prints remain staples in vintage fine art collections and continue to be exhibited in private galleries globally. The involvement of Mitch Morse Gallery ensures clear provenance and secure attribution for collectors.

Mary Vickers (British/American, b. early 1940s)
She Loves Me, 1975. Lithograph on paper, 30 x 22 in. Signed and marked “Artist’s Proof.” A tender mother-and-child portrait rendered in Vickers’ Romantic sepia style. Rare AP impression from her highly collectible early printmaking period.

CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Mary Vickers
Title: She Loves Me
Date: 1975
Medium: Lithograph
Dimensions: 30 x 22 inches
Edition: Artist’s Proof (AP)
Signature: Signed lower right; marked AP lower left
Provenance: Acquired in New York City; Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
Condition: Excellent
Authenticity: Verified original lithograph designated Artist’s Proof by the artist
Estimated Market Value: See price ranges below
Issued By: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC

Provenance

Published by Mitch Morse Gallery (exclusive publisher of Mary Vickers).
Acquired directly from Mitch Morse Gallery.
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.