Dear Christopher Wilk,

Thank you for your appraisal submission. The submitted work is a monotype by Betty Merken (American, 20th/21st century) titled "Portal VI" from 2005. Monotypes are not paintings, but rather single edition prints made by applying paint to a panel and pressing the work onto a sheet of paper. "Portal VI" is an abstract, oil monotype of a red, beige, black and white colorfield. The work is signed and dated to the lower right margin; numbered 1/1 to the center lower margin; and titled to the lower left margin. It measures 36" x 26.5" in frame.

Merken is a painter and printmaker working specifically in the monotype medium, known as the most painterly of the print techniques. Her oeuvre consists purely of abstracts and color field compositions, alluding to the practices of Josef Albers, Barnett Newman, and Donald Judd. Merken's works do not appear on the secondary market too often with most sales directed through gallery representations. Unlike other printing techniques which result in multiple editions of a single image, monotypes are as unique as paintings and therefore decrease the value gap between an artist's paintings and prints. Merken's most recent secondary sale had a steep increase in hammer price compared to her previous sales, possibly suggesting an increase in the artist's market value. Considering this sale as well as her general market trends, we estimate the Fair Market Value of this work between $200 and $500.

Thank you again for your appraisal submission.

Kind regards,
Charlotte B.