About The Work
In the 1960s Motherwell fell in love with Italy. The country would provide a major source of inspiration during an era that saw abstract expressionism lose its dominant position in the avant-garde as it was challenged by pop art and minimalism, in addition to numerous other sub-genres of contemporary art.
By the late 1960s minimalism had unquestionably influenced Robert Motherwell. This work from the same year he began his "Open" series, appropriately features his iconic uncapped rectangle, delicately realized within a bold cinnabar colored form, which is contained in a ripped out space from a field of saturated jade green. The overall effect recalls both an olive's pimento and the slashed or ripped canvases of Lucio Fontana (who coincidentally died in September 1968)
Spoleto is located in the center of Italy, approximately halfway between Rome and Florence. The eponymous festival was established in 1958 to celebrate the performing and visual arts. Motherwell designed the announcement poster based on a recent collage. The poster was realized in an edition of 950. This work, a screenprint from an edition of 150, has both a signature in the plate, as well as the artist's signature in pencil (along with the edition number).
Incidentally, in 1972 Helen Frankenthaler would similarly create an artwork for the Spoleto Festival shortly after her divorce from Robert Motherwell.
Courtesy of Caviar20
About Robert Motherwell
From The Magazine
- Art 101: How To Use Art Theory To Curate Your Collection
- Art 101: What Was Abstract Expressionism? A Paint-Splattered Primer on America's First Major Art Movement
- Art 101: Looking to Start Buying Art? Here Are 9 Tips From Seasoned Experts on How to Build a Great Collection
- News & Events: 10 of the Best Artworks at Art Basel Miami 2015
- Art 101: What Did Irving Sandler Do? A Primer on the Ideas of the Art Historian and Artists Space Co-Founder
Screenprint on American etching paper
39.50 x 27.50 in
100.3 x 69.8 cm
This work is signed and dated in plate.
About The Work
In the 1960s Motherwell fell in love with Italy. The country would provide a major source of inspiration during an era that saw abstract expressionism lose its dominant position in the avant-garde as it was challenged by pop art and minimalism, in addition to numerous other sub-genres of contemporary art.
By the late 1960s minimalism had unquestionably influenced Robert Motherwell. This work from the same year he began his "Open" series, appropriately features his iconic uncapped rectangle, delicately realized within a bold cinnabar colored form, which is contained in a ripped out space from a field of saturated jade green. The overall effect recalls both an olive's pimento and the slashed or ripped canvases of Lucio Fontana (who coincidentally died in September 1968)
Spoleto is located in the center of Italy, approximately halfway between Rome and Florence. The eponymous festival was established in 1958 to celebrate the performing and visual arts. Motherwell designed the announcement poster based on a recent collage. The poster was realized in an edition of 950. This work, a screenprint from an edition of 150, has both a signature in the plate, as well as the artist's signature in pencil (along with the edition number).
Incidentally, in 1972 Helen Frankenthaler would similarly create an artwork for the Spoleto Festival shortly after her divorce from Robert Motherwell.
Courtesy of Caviar20
About Robert Motherwell
From The Magazine
- Art 101: How To Use Art Theory To Curate Your Collection
- Art 101: What Was Abstract Expressionism? A Paint-Splattered Primer on America's First Major Art Movement
- Art 101: Looking to Start Buying Art? Here Are 9 Tips From Seasoned Experts on How to Build a Great Collection
- News & Events: 10 of the Best Artworks at Art Basel Miami 2015
- Art 101: What Did Irving Sandler Do? A Primer on the Ideas of the Art Historian and Artists Space Co-Founder
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