Robert Motherwell

ROBERT MOTHERWELL (United States, 1915-United States 1991).
"Samurai", 1971
Lithograph on Japan Suzuki paper.
Hand signed by the artist.
Label by Brooke Alexander on the back.
Measurements: 200 x 160 cm; 216 x 124 cm (frame).

"Samurai" is a paradigm of Motherwell's work: an aggressive black form from which explosions and slashes radiate. It is one of Motherwell's most potent images, invoking elements of sexuality in the phallic abstract form and violence through the title. Although it is difficult to decipher the traces of figuration in Motherwell's work, he was inspired by and referenced literature, life, politics.
A multidisciplinary artist, he trained at Stanford and Harvard Universities in Philosophy and at Columbia University in History and Art, under the direction of Meyer Schapiro. He was one of the leading representatives of American abstract expressionism, to whose group of founders he belongs along with Pollock, Arshile Gorky and Rothko. He also excelled as an art critic. He wrote numerous articles in avant-garde magazines and edited books such as "Documents of Modern Art" (1944-1961) or "Documents of 20th Century Art" (1971). He was a member of the editorial board of the Surrealist-linked publication "VVVV", Motherwell's main objective was to show the viewer the artist's mental and physical engagement with the canvas. He used the hardness of the color black as a basic element; one of his best known techniques consisted of diluting the paint with turpentine to create a shadow effect. His series of paintings known as "Elegies to the Spanish Republic" (Elegy to the Spanish Republic) is considered his most significant project. Among his many exhibitions, we can highlight his participation in the most important surrealist exhibition in the United States organized by André Breton, Marcel Duchamp and gallery owner Sidney Janis at the Whitelaw Reid Mansion (Manhattan-1942). Also the exhibition held at the Gallery "Art of this Century" (New York) in 1943 directed by Peggy Guggenheim; in which he participated along with Jackson Pollock and Baziotes. The following year the Museum of Modern Art in New York acquired one of his works; he was subsequently included in several exhibitions at the same Museum. In 1980, Robert Motherwell had his first exhibition in Spain at the Fundación Juan March (Madrid). In 1986, he received the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts, Spain's highest cultural award. In 1989, the National Medal of Arts of the United States, the Museum of Modern Art in Fort Worth (USA) houses the largest collection of works by Motherwell. In the Empire State Plaza (New York) you can also find some of his works. The Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, USA) has an almost exhaustive collection of his prints. In addition to the representation in numerous museums, public and private collections and in the most prestigious galleries around the world.