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MOTHERWELL, ROBERT

* 24.1.1915 Aberdeen, † 16.7.1991 Provincetown, Massachusetts

The American artist Robert Motherwell is an Abstract Expressionist. He was born on 24 January 1915 in Aberdeen, Washington. From 1932 to 1938 he studied painting at the California School of Fine Arts and received his BA in philosophy at Stanford University. At Harvard he devoted himself to philosophy and French literature, which then took him to Paris in 1938/1939. There he made the acquaintance of artists such as Piet Mondrian and Fernand Léger and held his first exhibition at Galerie Duncan. Back in the United States, Motherwell began his studies in art history at Columbia University, New York, under Meyer Schapiro and Kurt Seligmann. His acquaintance with Roberto Matta and Wolfgang Paalen brought him closer to Surrealism, having got to know Paalen on a joint trip to Mexico. He had a growing number of exhibitions and, amongst other things, took part in the large-scale exhibition at MoMA “Fourteen Americans” in 1946. In 1945 Motherwell taught at the renowned Black Mountain College, and in 1951-1958 at Hunter College, New York. He undertook numerous trips through Europe. Robert Motherwell was married four times, including a marriage to Helen Frankenthaler.

Like Jackson Pollock, to whom he is often referred as his intellectual counterpart, in his early work Motherwell was closely associated with Surrealism. In the 1950s, however, he turned towards Abstract Expressionism, and developed his own pictorial language, which is characterised by powerful black signs and gestural motifs. In the 1960s he turned increasingly towards colour field painting. Amongst other things, he cites pure presence, passion, immediacy, objectivity and clear colours as his ethical values. He often worked in large scale series, based on works of literature. He had full command of all the techniques he used.

In 1959 and 1964 Motherwell was one of the participants of documenta II and III in Kassel. In 1965 the Museum of Modern Art hosted its first comprehensive retrospective of his work. This was followed by numerous exhibitions in galleries and museums worldwide. The greatest honours were bestowed upon this American artist: the Guggenheim International Award in 1964; the Médaille de Vermeil of the city of Paris in 1977; in 1988 he was named Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France; in 1989 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. In 1970 Robert Motherwell was made member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, in 1985 member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and in 1990 Associate Member of the National Academy of Design. Robert Motherwell died on July 16, 1991 in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Works from our auctions

Works by this artist from our auctions

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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3654 - A197 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 01 July 2021, 01.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Elegy Black Black. 1982-83.
Colour lithograph. 10/98. Signed in pencil lower right: R. Motherwell. Image 38 × 96 cm on wove paper by TGL (with the watermark). Published by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). Printed by Lee Funderburg and Roger Campbell. Sheet 7 from the 19-part book "El Negro" by Rafael Alberti.

CHF 10 000 / 15 000 | (€ 10 310 / 15 460)

Sold for CHF 16 160 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3733 - A195 Prints & Multiples - Saturday 05 December 2020, 10.00 AM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Black with no way out. 1983.
Colour lithograph. 6/98. Signed in pencil lower right: Motherwell. Sheet size 38.2 × 95.9 cm on wove paper. With blindstamp.

CHF 10 000 / 15 000 | (€ 10 310 / 15 460)

Sold for CHF 14 940 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3732 - A195 Prints & Multiples - Saturday 05 December 2020, 10.00 AM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Rite of Passage II. 1979-80.
Colour lithograph. 1/51. Signed in pencil lower left: Motherwell. Image 59 × 72 cm on firm wove paper 79 × 98 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics (with the blindstamp). Printed by Lee Funderburg.

CHF 4 000 / 5 000 | (€ 4 120 / 5 150)

Sold for CHF 6 250 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3655 - A197 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 01 July 2021, 01.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Monster. 1974/75.
Lithograph. ap V/VIII, artist's proof outside the edition of 26. Monogrammed in pencil upper right: RM, as well as with the artist's chop mark lower left : ROBERT MOTHERWELL. Sheet size 102 × 77 cm on wove paper by HMP. Published by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). Printed by Kenneth Tyler.

CHF 2 000 / 3 000 | (€ 2 060 / 3 090)

Sold for CHF 5 625 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3659 - A197 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 01 July 2021, 01.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Black concentrated. 1981/83.
Lithograph. 9/98. Signed in pencil lower left: Motherwell. Image 27 × 50 cm on wove paper by TGL (with the watermark) 38.2 × 95.9 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). Printed by Lee Funderburg and Roger Campbell. Sheet 10 from the 19-part book "El Negro" by Rafael Alberti.

CHF 1 400 / 1 800 | (€ 1 440 / 1 860)

Sold for CHF 2 500 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3663 - A197 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 01 July 2021, 01.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Mediterranean (State II Yellow). 1975.
Colour lithograph. 18/26. Signed in pencil lower right: Motherwell, as well as with the artist's chop mark lower right: ROBERT MOTHERWELL. Image 72.5 × 51.5 cm on wove paper by Arches 118.2 × 80 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). Printed by Kenneth Tyler and Robert Bigelow.

CHF 1 200 / 1 800 | (€ 1 240 / 1 860)

Sold for CHF 2 500 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3731 - A195 Prints & Multiples - Saturday 05 December 2020, 10.00 AM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Rite of Passage III. 1982.
Colour lithograph. 7/98. Monogrammed in brown felt-tip pen upper left: RM. Image 55 × 65 cm on thin Japan paper 63 × 86 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics (with the blindstamp). Printed by Lee Funderburg.

CHF 2 000 / 3 000 | (€ 2 060 / 3 090)

Sold for CHF 2 500 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3668 - A197 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 01 July 2021, 01.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Airless Black. 1981/83.
Colour lithograph. 7/98. Signed in pencil lower right: Motherwell. Image 30 × 45 cm on wove paper by TGL (with the watermark) 38.2 × 65.5 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). Printed by Lee Funderburg and Roger Campbell. Sheet 9 from the 19-part book "El Negro" by Rafael Alberti.

CHF 1 000 / 1 500 | (€ 1 030 / 1 550)

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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3689* - Z41 Prints & Multiples - Saturday 03 December 2016, 03.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Untitled.
1986.
Lithograph and collage. 70/100. Signed lower left: Motherwell. Image 45.5 x 35 cm on vélin 55 x 38 cm. Published by Ediciones Polígrafa, Barcelona. Printed by Polígrafa, Barcelona and Tyler Graphics Ltd., New York. From the portfolio "Galeria Joan Prats".

CHF 1 200 / 1 600 | (€ 1 240 / 1 650)

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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3658 - A197 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 01 July 2021, 01.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Black wall of Spain. 1981/83.
Colour lithograph. 9/98. Signed in pencil lower left: Motherwell. Image 34 × 91 cm on wove paper by TGL (with the watermark) 38.2 × 95.9 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). Printed by Lee Funderburg and Roger Campbell. Sheet 8 from the 19-part book "El Negro" by Rafael Alberti.

CHF 1 200 / 1 600 | (€ 1 240 / 1 650)

Sold for CHF 1 875 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3738* - A181 Prints & Multiples - Saturday 01 July 2017, 04.00 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Soot-Black Stone # 1. 1973.
Lithograph. 31/50. Signed in pencil lower right: Motherwell, also with the blindstamp: Robert Motherwell. Image 76 x 30.5 cm on vélin by Moulin de Larroque Hawthorne (with the watermark: RM) 90.6 x 46 cm. Published by Gemini G.E.L, Los Angeles (with the blindstamp). On the reverse also with the copyright stamp Gemini G.E.L. and the workshop number: RM 73-526. Printed by Serge Lozingot. Sheet 1 from the 6-part portfolio.

CHF 600 / 800 | (€ 620 / 820)

Sold for CHF 1 875 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3730 - A195 Prints & Multiples - Saturday 05 December 2020, 10.00 AM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Spanish Elegy I. 1975.
Lithograph. AP IX, artist's proof outside the edition of 38. Signed in pencil lower right: Motherwell. Image 36 × 47 cm on beige wove paper 44 × 75,5 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics (with the blindstamp). Printed by Kenneth Tyler and Robert Bigelow (with the blindstamp).

CHF 1 400 / 1 800 | (€ 1 440 / 1 860)

Sold for CHF 1 625 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3735 - A195 Prints & Multiples - Saturday 05 December 2020, 10.00 AM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Le Coq. 1974/75.
Colour lithograph and screenprint. 30/40. Monogrammed in pencil lower right: RM. Image 62 × 48 cm on wove paper by Arches 96,5 × 64 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics (with the blindstamp). Printed by Kenneth Tyler and Robert Bigelow (with the blindstamp).

CHF 1 200 / 1 800 | (€ 1 240 / 1 860)

Sold for CHF 1 500 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3660 - A197 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 01 July 2021, 01.30 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Through Black Emerge Purified. 1982-83.
Colour lithograph. 7/98. Signed in pencil lower right: Motherwell. Image 32 × 82 cm on wove paper by TGL (with the watermark) 38.2 × 95.9 cm. Published by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). Printed by Lee Funderburg and Roger Campbell. Sheet 18 from the 19-part book "El Negro" by Rafael Alberti.

CHF 800 / 1 200 | (€ 820 / 1 240)

Sold for CHF 1 250 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 7049 - ibid125 Prints & Multiples - online only - Wednesday 08 December 2021, 03.00 PM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Untitled. 1976.
Lithograph. 49/70. Signed in pencil lower left: R. Motherwell, as well as with the reversed initials in the plate upper right: RM76. Sheet size 89 × 75 cm on Arches wove paper. Published by the artist (with the blind stamp). Printed in the artist's studio by Robert Bigelow. The first 50 copies of this edition were presented to the Parisian magazine "Art Présent".

CHF 1 000 / 1 500 | (€ 1 030 / 1 550)

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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3653* - A207 Prints & Multiples - Thursday 30 November 2023, 11.00 AM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
Untitled (B). 1984.
Colour lithograph. ap I/X, artist's proof outside the edition of 100. Monogrammed in white colour pen lower right: Rm. Image 46.5 × 34 cm on wove paper by BFK Rives 50.5 × 35 cm. In double sheet with the printed article 11 of the Human Rights. Published by Mundiarte, Madrid. Printed by Tyler Graphics, New York (with the blindstamp). From the 30-part portfolio "Decclaración de Derechos Humanos: homenaje a Fray Bartolomé", dating 1984.

CHF 800 / 1 200 | (€ 820 / 1 240)

Sold for CHF 875 (including buyer’s premium)
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ROBERT MOTHERWELL

Lot 3688 - Z27 Prints & Multiples - Friday 04 December 2009, 10.00 AM

ROBERT MOTHERWELL

(Aberdeen 1915–1991 Provincetown)
A la pintura. 1972-79.
Frontispiece aus dem Album "A la pintura". Radierung, Probedruck. Unten rechts monogrammiert, datiert und bezeichnet: RM Trial 1972-79. Zudem mit dem Künstlerstempel. Im Druck bezeichnet: the end fin. Platte 36 x 69,5 cm auf Vélin 65,5 x 97 cm. Unten links mit dem Blindprägestempel des Verlegers Universal Limited Art Editions Inc., West Islip, New York. Sehr schöner Zustand.

CHF 500 / 700 | (€ 520 / 720)

Sold for CHF 720 (including buyer’s premium)
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