
The image appears to be worked directly onto a single heavy board with a deliberately reserved border, rather than being placed behind a separate mat. Housed in what appears to be it's original decorative oak wood frame with gilted inner gesso trim and very thick glass. When I acquired this piece there was no backing for the frame, it was just artwork against glass and nails. I believe it originally had a split, real wood backing and the acid burn on the back of the artwork appears to be a perfect pattern of it, including the brown circle on the front right margin and back, from the back it appears to show where there was a knot in the thin backing. Technically damage but I find it very interesting and certainly unique.