Robert Motherwell A Survey of Prints 17th January - 7th March 2020
bernard jacobson gallery
On the cover
Robert Motherwell Elegy Black Black 1983 Lithograph in colors, on TGL handmade paper Edition of 98 38.1 x 95.9 cms (15 x 37 4/5 ins) see p. 48-49
For further information, please contact: Constance Aehlig constance@jacobsongallery.com tel: +44 (0)20 7734 3431 All prices are subject to VAT. Some prints can be sold under Margin Scheme.
Robert Motherwell A Survey of Prints 17th January - 7th March 2020
bernard jacobson gallery
28 duke street st james’s london sw1y 6ag tel +44 (0)20 7734 3431 fax +44 (0)20 7734 3277 | mail@jacobsongallery.com www.jacobsongallery.com | Bernard Jacobson Limited Registered No 00962605 VAT No GB 510329685
Press Release
Bernard Jacobson Gallery is delighted to announce an exhibition of prints by the American Abstract Expressionist artist Robert Motherwell (1915-1991). The exhibition will be the most comprehensive show of his editioned work to date. It assembles around 80 of his best prints ranging from very early experimental pieces, to images from the groundbreaking collaboration with Ken Tyler and the more intimate and rare editions produced in the artist’s studio. Unique trial proofs will be on display as well as preparatory works for the colourful collaged prints. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Robert Motherwell produced a remarkable body of work that ranks among the most notable achievements in post-war American art. In addition to creating his celebrated paintings, drawings and collages, Motherwell was a renowned and innovative printmaker, producing more than 500 works. Motherwell first learned about printmaking through the surrealists, who having emigrated from a troubled Europe to the States had established workshops there for artists to work together and exchange their ideas and thoughts. His interest in printmaking was re-ignited in the 1960s. Having worked in large workshops such as Universal Art Editions and Hollander Workshop and gaining extensive experience in the various printmaking techniques during this period, Motherwell decided in 1973 to buy his own etching and lithography press for his studio in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he was able to work independently and unburd ened by the constraints of a large, commercial workshop.
During the fruitful collaboration with Ken Tyler Motherwell introduced his famous Elegy to the Spanish Republic theme into his printmaking. Five of these rare and powerful images will be on display in the show. These are shown alongside light collages of wine labels, cigarette packs which Motherwell created later in his life. “I do not smoke Gauloises cigarettes, but that particular blue of the label happens to attract me, so I possess it. …For a painter as abstract as myself, the collages offer a way of incorporating bits of the everyday world into pictures.” Motherwell’s inspiration through literature led him to create many livres d’artiste. Motherwell describes his idea of collaborating with poets: “My vocabulary works only with poetry, that is to say with non-narrative writing to which my visual metaphors can be matched with verbal metaphors springing from the same kind of source…not illustration, but a series of explosions of fireworks, or oppositely, a kind of restrained silence”, Octavio Paz who like Motherwell moved in surrealist circles in the late 40s was through his psychic automatism in literature the perfect inspiration for this artist book “Octavio Paz. Three Poems” which will be shown in the exhibition for the first time. The 27 lithographs were produced sparing no expensive and had gone “beyond bookness” as Motherwell characterised the ambitious project. This exhibition at Bernard Jacobson Gallery is a comprehensive display of the visual vocabulary of Robert Motherwell’s oeuvre. Elegies, motifs from the open series, gestural prints and collages show the wide range of Motherwell’s art and the creativity in his printmaking which make him one of the most prolific and adventurous printmakers of his time.
Gray Open with White Paint 1981 Soft-ground etching and pochoir on gray Auvergne a la Main Richard de Bas handmade paper Edition of 79 51.4 x 66.7 cms (20 1/4 x 26 1/4 ins) $ 4,000 4
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Tobacco Roth-Handle 1975 Lithograph and screenprint on cream HMP handmade paper Edition of 45 104.1 x 78.7 cms (41 x 31 ins) $ 9,000 6
Roth-Handle 1975 Brushed aquatint and collage Edition of 53 49.5 x 39.7 cms (19 1/2 x 15 1/2 ins) $ 9,000 7
Roth-Handle II (Crimson) 1975 Aquatint and line-cut with hand colouring on buff Dewint handmade paper, Edition of 6 62.9 x 53 cms (24 3/4 x 20 7/8 ins) $ 5,500 8
Roth-Handle II (ochre) 1975 Aquatint and line-cut with hand colouring on buff Dewint handmade paper, Edition of 6 62.9 x 53 cms (24 3/4 x 20 7/8 ins) $ 5,500 9
Roth-Handle II (Olive) 1975 Aquatint and line-cut with hand colouring on buff Dewint handmade paper, Edition of 6 62.9 x 53 cms (24 3/4 x 20 7/8 ins) $ 5,500 10
In White with Green Stripe 1987 Lithograph, relief print, embossing and collage Edition of 75 86.4 x 61 cms (34 x 24 ins) $ 9,000 11
Summertime in Italy (with Lines) 1966 Lithograph on Rives BFK paper Edition of 100 61.6 x 43.18 cms (24 1/4 x 17 ins) $ 8,000 12
Summertime in Italy (with Lines) 1966 Lithograph on Rives BFK paper Edition of 100 61.6 x 43.18 cms (24 1/4 x 17 ins) $ 7,000 13
Alberti Elegy 1982 Lithograph and chine appliquĂŠ Edition of 100 35.6 x 38.1 cms (14 x 15 ins) $ 8,000 14
Automatism Elegy (State II Buff) 1980 Lithograph Edition of 50 40.3 x 50.8 cms (15 7/8 x 20 ins) $ 6,000 15
Calligraphic Study IV 1976 Lift-ground etching and aquatint on HMP handmade paper Edition of 30 57.7 x 45.7 cms (22 3/4 x 18 ins) $ 6,000 16
Dance I 1978 Lift-ground etching and aquatint on J.B. Green paper Edition of 30 49.5 x 77.5 cms (19 1/2 x 30 1/2 ins) $ 14,000 17
Untitled 1978 Lithograph and chine colle Edition of 19 73.9 x 56.9 cms (29 1/8 x 22 1/2 ins) $ 6,000 18
Poet II 1962 Lithograph on white wove German Copperplate paper Edition of 35 75.6 x 53.7 cms (29 3/4 x 21 1/8 ins) $ 6,000 19
Untitled 1978 Lithograph and chine collĂŠ Edition of 24 73.7 x 64.8 cms (29 x 25 1/2 ins) $ 6,000 20
Octavio Paz Suite: Nocturne III 1988 Lithograph and chine appliquĂŠ on Arches paper Edition of 50 64.5 x 54 cms (25 3/8 x 21 1/4 ins) $ 4,000 21
Octavio Paz Suite: Mexico City Personages I 1988 Lithograph and chine appliquĂŠ Edition of 50 66.7 x 80.7 cms (26 1/4 x 31 3/4 ins) $ 3,000 22
Octavio Paz Suite: Mexico City Personages II 1988 Lithograph and chine appliquĂŠ on Arches paper Edition of 50 66.7 x 80.7 cms (26 1/4 x 31 3/4 ins) $ 3,500 23
Monster 1975 Lithograph on speckled gray HMP handmade paper Edition of 26 104.1 x 78.7 cms (41 x 31 ins) $ 15,000 24
Elegy Study 1979 Lithograph on Twinrocker handmade paper Edition of 98 64.1 x 95.3 cms (25 1/4 x 37 1/2 ins) $ 12,000 25
Stephen’s Iron Crown Etched 1982 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on German Etching paper Edition of 66 64.1 x 71.8 cms (25 1/4 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 8,000 26
Africa Suite: Africa 7 1970 Screenprint on J.B. Green paper Edition of 150 103.5 x 71.8 cms (40 3/4 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 6,500 27
Africa Suite: Africa 1 1970 Screenprint on J.B.Green paper Edition of 150 103.5 x 71.8 cms (40 3/4 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 7,500 28
Elegy Fragment II 1985 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on Georges Duchene Hawthorne of Larroque handmade paper Edition of 52 87.6 x 61 cm (34 1/2 x 24 ins) $ 14,000 29
Untitled 1986 Colour lithograph and collage, on Guarro paper Edition of 100 55.9 x 37.8 cms (22 x 14 7/8 ins) $ 4,000 30
Black on Black 1978 Lithograph and chine collĂŠ Edition of 58 70.5 x 56.5 cms (27 3/4 x 22 1/4 ins) $ 6,500 31
Spoleto Festival 1968 Screenprint Poster Edition of 150 100.5 x 69.9 cms (39 1/2 x 27 1/2 ins) $ 3,000 32
Dedication–Lincoln Center (B.App.23) 1969 Screenprint with collage in colours Edition of 108 113 x 73.7 cms (44 1/2 x 29 ins) $ 15,000 33
St. Michael III 1979 Lithograph and Screenprint on gray HMP handmade paper Edition of 99 105.4 x 80 cms (41 1/2 x 31 1/2 ins) $ 9,000 34
Bastos 1975 Lithograph on white Arjomari mould-made paper Edition of 49 158.4 x 101.6 cms (62.4 x 40 ins) $ 55,000 35
Untitled 1980 Lithograph on buff Arches Cover paper Edition of 75 23.3 x 30 cms (9 1/4 x 113/4 ins) $ 4,000 36
Automatism Elegy (State I White) 1980 Lithograph on white Arches Cover paper Edition of 40 45.5 x 55.9 cms (17 7/8 x 22 ins) $ 6,000 37
America – La France Variations IX 1984 Lithograph and collage Edition of 60 72.4 x 55.3 cms (8 1/2 x 21 3/4 ins) $ 7,000 38
America – La France Variations III 1984 Color lithograph and collage on black Arches Cover Edition of 70 122 x 78.1 cms (48 x 30 3/4 ins) $ 7,000 39
The Stoneness of the Stone 1974 Lithograph on light gray Twinrocker handmade paper laminated to medium gray Twinrocker handmade paper, Edition of 75 104.1 x 76.2 cms (41 x 30 ins) $ 15,000 40
The Wave 1978 Soft-ground etching and chine collĂŠ Edition of 60 78.1 x 65.4 cms (30 3/4 x 25 3/4 ins) $ 6,000 41
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Mediterranean Light 1991 Lithograph on white Tyler Graphics Ltd. (TGL) handmade paper Edition of 40 82.6 x 193 cms (32 1/2 x 76 ins) $ 70,000 43
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Black with No Way Out 1983 Lithograph on white Tyler Graphics Ltd. (TGL) handmade paper Edition of 98 38.1 x 95.5 cms (15 x 38 ins) $ 40,000 45
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Lament for Lorca 1982 Lithograph on white Tyler Graphics handmade paper Edition of 52 111.8 x 154.9 cms (44 x 61 ins) $ 40,000 47
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Elegy Black Black 1983 Lithograph in colors, on TGL handmade paper Edition of 98 38.1 x 95.9 cms (15 x 37 4/5 ins) $ 30,000 49
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Samurai II 1980 Lithograph and chine appliquĂŠ Edition of 49 144.8 x 62.2 cms (57 x 24 1/2 ins) $ 10,000 51
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Samurai 1971 Lithograph on white wove Japnese Suzuki handmande paper Edition of 16 182.9 x 94 cms (72 x 37 ins) $ 12,000 53
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The Black Wall 1981 Lift-ground etching and aquatint on Georges Duchene Hawthorne of Larroque Edition of 36 47 x 90.2 cms (18 1/2 x 35 1/2 ins) $ 18,000 55
Through Black Emerge Purified 1983 Lithograph on white Tyler Graphics Ltd. (TGL) handmade paper Edition of 98 38.1 x 95.9 cms (15 x 37 3/4 ins) $ 2,000 56
Black Wall of Spain 1983 Lithograph on white Tyler Graphics Ltd. (TGL) handmade paper Edition of 98 38.1 x 95.9 cms (15 x 37 3/4 ins) $ 2,000 57
Summer Sign 1990 Carborundum on Whatman paper Edition of 38 84.1 x 78.7 cms (33 1/8 x 31 ins) $ 12,000 58
Norway 1980 Lithograph on Somerset paper Edition of 50 54.9 x 56.5 cms (21 5/8 x 22 1/4 ins) $ 5,000 59
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The Berggruen Series: Untitled 1980 Lithograph on white Arches Cover paper Edition of 100 40 x 42.2 cms (15 3/4 x 16 5/8 ins) $ 5,000 61
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The Berggruen Series: Untitled 1980 Lithograph on white Arches Cover paper Edition of 100 40 x 42.2 cms (15 3/4 x 16 5/8 ins) $ 5,000 63
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The Berggruen Series: Untitled 1980 Lithograph on white Arches Cover paper Edition of 100 40 x 42.2 cms (15 3/4 x 16 5/8 ins) $ 5,000 65
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The Berggruen Series: Untitled 1980 Lithograph on white Arches Cover paper Edition of 100 40 x 42.2 cms (15 3/4 x 16 5/8 ins) $ 5,000 67
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Paris Suite I (Spring) 1980 Lithograph on J.B. Green handmade paper, Edition of 60 48.9 x 48.9 cms (19 3/8 x 19 3/8 ins) $ 5,000 69
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Paris Suite II (Summer) 1980 Lithograph on J.B. Green handmade paper Edition of 60 49.2 x 41 cms (19 3/8 x 16 1/8 ins) $ 5,000 71
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Paris Suite III (Autumn) 1980 Lithograph on J.B. Green handmade paper Edition of 60 49.2 x 56.8 cms (19 3/8 x 22 3/8 ins) $ 5,000 73
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Paris Suite IV (Winter) 1980 Lithograph on J.B. Green handmade paper Edition of 60 47 x 45.7 cm (18 1/2 x 18 ins) $ 5,000 75
St. Marks 1980 Lithograph on Somerset paper, Edition 50 54 x 48.3 cms (21 1/4 x 19 ins) $ 2,500 76
Gesture III 1977 Brushed aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on J.B. Green paper Edition of 75 88.9 x 66.7 cms (35 x 26 3/8 ins) $ 18,000 77
Untitled 1975 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint, and soft-ground etching on buff Arches Cover paper Edition of 96 75.9 x 56.8 cms (29 7/8 x 22 3/8 ins) $ 8,000 78
Untitled 1975 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint, and soft-ground etching on Rives BFK paper Edition of 69 65.4 x 50.2 cms (25 3/4 x 19 3/4 ins) $ 8,000 79
Octavio Paz Suite: Red Samurai 1988 Lithograph, linoleum block print, and chine appliquĂŠ Edition of 50 64.5 x 54 cms (25 3/8 x 21 1/4 ins) $ 12,000 80
Australian Stone 1984 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint, chine colle Edition of 52 59.7 x 76.2 cms (23 1/2 x 30 ins) $ 20,000 81
Game of Chance 1987 Aquatint, lithograph and collage on paper Edition of 100 88.3 x 69.9 cms (34 3/4 x 27 1/2 ins) $ 15,000 82
America – La France Variations I 1984 Lithograph and Collage Edition of 70 118.1 x 81.6 cms (46 1/2 x 32 1/8 ins) $ 12,000 83
Red Open with White Line 1979 Aquatint and soft-ground etching on Georges Duchene Hawthorne of Larroque handmade paper Edition of 56 47 x 90.5 cms (18 1/2 x 35 5/8 ins) $ 18,000 84
Untitled 1973 Aquatint from one copper plate printed in red; lift-ground etching and aquatint from one copper plate printed in black Edition of 50 74.9 x 105.4 cms (29 1/2 x 41 1/2 ins) $ 14,000 85
Mexican Night II 1984 Etching and aquatint in colours on Whatman paper Edition of 70 44.5 x 44.5 cms (17 1/2 x 17 1/2 ins) $ 40,000 86
Hermitage 1975 Lithograph and screenprint on white Arches Cover mould-made paper Edition of 200 118.8 x 80.7 cms (46 3/4 x 31 3/4 ins) $ 7,500 87
Red Sea III 1983 Aquatint and lift-ground etching on Georges DuchĂŞne Hawthorne of Larroque handmade paper Edition of 70 90.2 x 46.4 cms (35 1/2 x 18 1/4 ins) $ 21,000 88
Red Sea II 1979 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on German Etching paper Edition of 100 87.6 x 73.7 cms (34 1/2 x 29 ins) $ 18,000 89
The Red Queen 1989 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint and collage Edition of 40 78.7 x 63.5 cms (31 x 25 ins) $ 25,000 90
Red Sea I 1976 Colour etching and aquatint, on Arches Edition of 100 105.4 x 74 cms (41 1/2 x 29 1/8 ins) $ 25,000 91
Put out all flags 1980 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on German Etching paper Edition of 50 53.3 x 73.7 cms (21 x 29 ins) $ 20,000 92
Gesture IV 1976-77 Lift-ground etching with aquatint in colors on JB Green paper Edition of 100 88.9 x 66.6 cms (35 x 26 1/4 ins) $ 20,000 93
On the Wing 1984 Lithograph, embossing and collage Edition of 70 118.7 x 77.5 cms (46 3/4 x 30 1/2 ins) $ 12,000 94
Untitled (#19) 1976 Etching ink on paper 64.8 x 49.5 cms (25 1/2 x 19 1/2 ins) $ 12,000 95
Perpetual Summer 1985 Color etching, aquatint and collage on Whatman paper Edition of 26 60 x 42.9 cms (23 5/8 x 16 7/8 ins) $ 17,000 96
Capriccio 1961 Collotype and colour photo screenprint on Arches paper Edition of 200 51.7 x 39.7 cms (20 3/8 x 15 5/8 ins) $ 5,000
Gesture I (State I) 1977 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on J.B. Green paper Edition of 75 89.5 x 66.7 cms (35 1/4 x 26 1/4 ins) $ 14,000 98
Paroles peintes III: Untitled 1966 Open-bite etching printed in dark, brownish black on fibrous Japan paper Edition of 200 in three numbered segments 38 x 28 cms (14 7/8 x 11 1/8 ins) $ 3,000 99
Riverrun 1988 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on German Etching paper Edition of 37 47 x 68.6 cms (18 1/2 x 27 ins) $ 14,000 100
At the Edge 1984 Aquatint and lift-ground etching on Auvergne a la Main Richard de Bas handmade paper Edition of 34 57.8 x 63.8 cms (22 3/4 x 25 1/8 ins) $ 30,000 101
Oy/Yo 1978 Aquatint, soft-ground etching, and collage Edition of 78 67.9 x 55.9 cms (26 3/4 x 22 ins) $ 6,000 102
The Basque Suite: Untitled 1971 Colour screenprint printed in black, red and orange on J.B. Green paper Edition of 150 104.1 x 71.7 cms (41 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 7,000 103
The Basque Suite: Untitled 1971 Colour screenprint printed in blue and black on J.B. Green paper Edition of 150 104.1 x 71.7 cms (41 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 7,000 104
The Basque Suite: Untitled 1971 Screenprint on J.B. Green Paper Edition of 150 104.1 x 71.7 cms (41 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 7,000 105
The Basque Suite: Untitled 1971 Colour screenprint on J.B. Green paper Edition of 150 104.1 x 71.7 cms (41 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 7,000 106
Untitled: The Basque Suite 1970-71 Colour screenprint on J.B. Green paper Edition of 150 104.1 x 71.7 cms (41 x 28 1/4 ins) $ 7,000 107
Untitled 1974 Brushed aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on German Etching paper Edition of 32 71.8 x 56.5 cms (28 1/4 x 22 1/4 ins) $ 4,000 108
For Meyer Schapiro: Tallith for Meyer Schapiro 1974 Lift-ground etching and aquatint on Arches Cover paper Edition of 100 105.4 x 74.9 cms (41 1/2 x 29 1/2 ins) $ 4,000 109
THE ROBINSON JEFFERS PRINT 1981 Lithograph, on Kitikata handmade paper Edition of 100 29.5 x 24.4 cms (11 5/8 x 9 5/8 ins) $ 3,000 110
Untitled 1976 Lithograph and chine colle Edition of 27 56.5 x 76.2 cms (22 1/4 x 30 ins) $ 4,000 111
Untitled (State I) 1977 Lithograph and chine collĂŠ Edition of 20 46 x 58.7 cms (18 1/8 x 23 1/8 ins) $ 2,000 112
House Of Atreus 1983 Aquatint and lift-ground etching on Moulin du Gue Rives de Lin paper, Edition of 40 31.8 x 26.7 cms (12 1/2 x 10 1/2 ins) Trial Proof $ 2,000 113
EspaĂąa II 1983 Aquatint and lift-ground etching on Moulin du Gue Rives de Lin paper, Edition of 40 31.8 x 26.7 cms (12 1/2 x 10 1/2 ins) Trial Proof $ 2,500 114
España I 1977 Aquatint, lift-ground etching and aquatint on Moulin du Gué Rives de Lin paper, Edition of 40 23.3 x 18.4 cms (9 1/4 x 7 1/4 ins) Trial Proof $ 1,500 115
Black Flag 1983 Etching on Georges Duchene Hawthorne of Larroque handmade paper Edition of 42 47 x 56.5 cms (18 1/2 x 22 1/4 ins) $ 6,000 116
For further information, please contact: Constance Aehlig constance@jacobsongallery.com tel: +44 (0)20 7734 3431
bernard jacobson gallery 28 duke street st james’s london sw1y 6ag tel +44 (0)20 7734 3431 fax +44 (0)20 7734 3277 | mail@jacobsongallery.com www.jacobsongallery.com | Bernard Jacobson Limited Registered No 00962605 VAT No GB 510329685