Lot n° 89
Robert Motherwell (1915-1991) "Elegy Black Black," 1983 Lithograph in black and gray on white TGL handmade paper Edition: 74/98 (there were also 14 artist's proofs in Roman numerals) Signed and numbered in pencil lower right: Motherwell; Tyler Graphics Ltd., Bedford Village, New York, pub., with their blindstamp lower right Image/Sheet: 15.25" H x 37.75" W Provenance: Estate of Robert Baron, Huntington Beach, CA Literature: Belknap 274; Engberg & Banach 309 Other notes: Abstract Expressionist Robert Motherwell was known for his deep intellectualism and ability to blend political themes with visual art. Born in 1915, Motherwell became a key figure in post-war American art, both as a painter, printmaker, and theorist. He was one of the youngest artists associated with the New York School and brought a philosophical and literary depth to abstraction and automatism. His work often reflected themes of existentialism, human struggle, and the impact of war, influenced by his studies in literature and philosophy. Among his most iconic contributions is the "Elegies to the Spanish Republic," a body of work begun in the late 1940s that he continued to revisit until his death in 1991. The series together forms a powerful statement on the tragedy of war, personal reflections on the fascist-led destruction of democracy during the Spanish Civil War, and, ultimately, the endurance of the human spirit. The "Elegies to the Spanish Republic" series consists of over 150 paintings and editioned works created throughout Motherwell's career. Like the present lithograph "Elegy Black Black," from 1983, works are visually defined by repeated motifs of black ovals and vertical bars against stark white or color backgrounds, symbolizing Motherwell's political and emotional response to the loss, violence, and mourning associated with the Spanish Civil War. Motherwell described the elegies as "funeral songs," using a restrained but potent visual vocabulary to evoke grief and resistance. Despite the historical specificity of their title, the paintings and prints transcend their origins, offering a universal meditation on suffering and resilience.
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