Helen Frankenthaler reused the matrix carved for her 1980 woodcut Cameo in order to create the rich colors and textured elements of the present lot. Monoprint V resulted from Frankenthaler using a proof pulled for Cameo and then adding an uncarved woodblock and finally hand-coloring this impression.

Monoprints and Monotypes are both techniques that produce unique works. Generally, Monotypes require that the artist work directly onto the plate — usually a thin and flat surface — from which the impression will be pulled. Monoprints differ from Monotypes in that such works could be made from any number of printing matrices such as woodblocks.