A noteworthy twentieth century artist and writer, Frederick Halpern studied painting and printmaking in both Vienna and Paris. As an original etcher, Halpern was equally gifted in color and black and white techniques. Stylistically, his color aquatints are comparable to the works of Luigi Kasimir, Hans Figura and Max Pollack, all great aquatint artists of the preceding generation. 

Halpern most often published signed impressions in small editions of twenty-five or less, as is the case here. 

Well traveled, he visited Egypt in 1926, and during the following years he also journeyed throughout Africa and Asia. Likewise, he was recorded to have visited Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand and many South Pacific islands including Hawaii where he found ample time to explore and create a record of his visit through his artwork. 

Although he wrote numerous books about his travels, most now are in public or private collections and are difficult to find on the market. Rarer still are his original etchings! Today the etchings and engravings of Frederick Halpern are included in many Australian public and private collections, including that of the National Gallery of Australia.

This rare etching is entitled "L'Arena (Sau Sebastian, Espagne)" and hand written by Halpern. It is numbered 7/25. Foxing present. Part of a set of 4. Matting and etching measures 16" x 20".

This artwork is from the art collection of Mona Hind Holmes, daughter of Robert Hind, Territory of Hawaii senator and past owner of Puuwaawaa Ranch on Hawaii Island. She was a descendant of King Kamehameha I through his daughter Kipikane, who married Parker Ranch founder John Palmer Parker. In 1930, Mona was the subject of the book, "Lava", by Armine von Tempsky.