One of the early Bay Area Abstract Expressionists Frank Lobdell moved between painting and printmaking throughout his whole career. In 1983, Lobdell began working with Master Printer David Kelso at Made in California Press where he produced his first color intaglios. He continued to work with Kelso until 2000 and their collaboration resulted in nearly fifty intaglio editions and numerous unique color monotypes.
Frank Lobdell used a variety of direct inking techniques to create this plate for this tense, dramatic composition. Lobdell, like a number of Abstract Expressionists, preferred to title his work, using the date he did it rather than influence the viewer with a title. Lobdell used the date of publication for his title. This intaglio is titled in this manner: 3.15.84.
In his early printmaking career, as part of the Sausalito 6, his lithographs were included in the 1948 "Drawings" portfolio, the first Abstract Expressionist portfolio done in the U.S. For a good description of Lobdell's early lithographic methods read David Acton's "The Stamp of Impulse: Abstract Expressionist Prints", Worcester Museum, 1981, page 66.