Robert Motherwell (1915-1991), alongside Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning, made up the quartet of American artists that radically defined abstraction and established New York City as the center of the post-war art world.
Motherwell was also the unofficial spokesman of the New York School, writing, teaching, and lecturing extensively on behalf of abstract expressionism, his fellow artists, and the merits of abstraction. In addition to his accomplishments as a painter and scholar Motherwell was also one of the most accomplished American printmakers of the 20th century.
He is one of the most innovative and prolific printmakers of the 20th century. He was always searching for new techniques, whether at his own printmaking atelier or collaborating with others, to expand his ideas and express his aesthetic.
In 1967, Motherwell introduced his "Open" series, a study that would continue to evolve for nearly two decades, extending into the 1980s. While Motherwell will forever be associated with abstract expressionism, this body of work, is perhaps his way of responding to minimalism.
The "Open" series came about entirely by chance. While in his studio, the artist was captivated by the silhouette of a recent painting, "Summertime in Italy," which leaned against a larger, freshly primed canvas. Intrigued by the proportions, Motherwell used charcoal to trace the canvas's contours, resulting in a simple but bold rectangular shape formed by three lines.
"Grey Open with White Paint" is a quintessential example of this series. A sweeping plane of warm mink or stone grey hosts a rectangle comprised of three fine black lines. Swathes of stark white embrace the corners of the form, accentuating its crisp angles. Like the best of this series, the top of the rectangle is left unlatched, as if representing a window, a swing, or opening into a world beyond.
Click here and here to see other "cousins" within this family of prints.
While Motherwell is renowned for black gestural forms, the influence of Minimalism in the 1960s is especially apparent in this body of work. This results is arguably one of the most intriguing phases within his entire oeuvre, and a reminder of his mastery and contribution to American abstraction.
Questions about this piece? Contact us or call +1.416.704.1720.
Visit our Toronto gallery on Thursdays or by appointment.
"Gray Open with White Paint"
USA, 1981
Soft-ground etching and pochoir
Grey Auvergne à la Main Richard de Bas handmade paper
Signed "RM" and numbered by the artist.
From an edition of 79
20.25”H 26.25”W (work)
Very good condition
Provenance: The Dedalus Foundation
- Where does the inventory ship from?
Our inventory is divided between New York and Toronto.
- Where do you ship to?
We can ship anywhere. Typically when we ship within North America we prefer to use FedEx or DHL. To Europe, Asia and beyond we generally use DHL.
- How much does it cost to ship?
For shipments within North America, we typically charge a flat rate fee. Many items on our site will list the rate. For shipping outside of North America, we can easily provide a quote and will look for the most efficient and economical option.
Most of the items on our site can be easily shipped internationally.
Occasionally we will recommend that an artwork be removed from its frame for shipping. Larger framed works are typically framed with plexiglass. We export over 80% of what we sell, so we are comfortable shipping anywhere.
- Are there additional taxes or fees?
When a work is valued above $2,500 usd there is a possibility of tax of 0.35%, but this is applied sporadically. There can similarly be an additional fee for customs brokerage and this can range from $20 - $65. US Taxes, duties and customs brokerage are not included in our flat rate shipping. However most of our shipments to the US enter without any additional fees.
- Do you provide a certificate of authenticity?
Yes, we guarantee everything we sell. We can provide both a digital and printed version of our certificate of authenticity.
What is your return policy?
- Caviar20 wants you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. We have a 7 day no-questions full refund return policy for your purchase. Shipping charges are non-refundable. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. After 8 days returns are given a credit note. There is no expiration for our credit notes.
- What payment methods do you accept?
Canadian clients are welcomed and encouraged to pay with interac.