From the V series of lithographs, 'Ifafa I' is one of the set based on the stripe paintings of the 'Notched V Paintings' (1964-65). Departing from the off-centred composition and standardised dimensions of the album series, the two, three and four part clusters of chevrons in the 'V series' are centred and accommodated on varying sizes of horizontal sheets.

Colour schemes in the prints, not congruent in every instance with those of the paintings, were derived in part from the 'Star of Persia' series. Although printed on white Lowell paper rather than English Vellum Graph paper, the 'V series' is in effect an extension of the 'Star of Persia' series and a continuation of Stella's use of metallic inks.

British and American clipper ships, fast moving transport vessels, dominated the high seas during the middle decades of the nineteenth century. The three-masted, square rigged clipper ship gained its name for 'clipping' along at record speeds, made possible with a sleek hull that sliced through the water, to which the chevron shape of the prints alludes.

All of the ships named in the 'V series' were built in Great Britain; the 'Empress of India' (1890) was a passenger and mail carrying ocean-liner - steam and sail driven - that was clipper-bowed in her design for increased speed.

Lithograph with varnish, 1968, with LC Varnish on Lowell paper, signed, dated and numbered from the edition of 100, published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, 41.3 x 56.8 cm. (16¼ x 22¼ in.)

Axsom 21