Large charcoal drawing mother and child framed Jerry De La Cruz signed

Description

This is an original charcoal and conte drawing on thick, 100% rag paper by American artist Jerry De La Cruz (b 1948, Denver, CO) from 2000. The drawing itself is 27” high by 21” wide. It is framed in a gold gilt wood frame with double matting under plexiglass ready to hang.
The subject is a double portrait of an indigenous looking mother holding a nude baby against her chest. The mother has long hair parted on the side. The baby’s head rests on the mother’s shoulder, the mother’s chin envelops the baby’s shoulder. The drawing style is loose and includes some red conte highlights.
The palette is monochrome with the gray tones of the black charcoal on the white paper with a few highlighted strokes in red. The work is titled “Hugs” and was originally created as a demonstration in a drawing class of the artist at the Art Students League of Denver. It is in pristine condition and signed front lower right by the artist.