Robert Motherwell Beau Geste I 1989 Signed Lithograph Edition of 100

Artist: Robert Motherwell
Title: Beau Geste I
Medium: Lithograph in Colors on Georges Duchene Paper
Year: 1989
Image Size: 22" x 15"
Edition: H.C.
Inscription: Signed and H.C. on front upper corner, with Embossed Artist's Stamp on Front lower corner
Documentation: Includes Original Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

"Beau Geste I" (1989) is a late-career lithograph by Robert Motherwell, one of the foremost figures of Abstract Expressionism and one of the movement's most influential printmakers. Created during a period marked by refinement and aesthetic distillation, this work reflects Motherwell's continued investigation into the expressive potential of pared-down gesture and the qualities unique to print media. Executed on Georges Duchene paper, the image measures 22 by 15 inches and is printed in color, maintaining the artist's signature interplay of bold mark-making and open space.

The lithographic technique allows for the direct translation of the artist's hand to the plate, capturing variations in pressure, saturation, and movement. In "Beau Geste I", Motherwell employs a restrained yet deliberate composition that balances gesture and structure, contributing to an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. The work reflects the broader ethos of the Beau Geste series, in which Motherwell explored the relationship between minimal form and emotive resonance.

This example is signed and hand-marked "H.C." (Hors Commerce) on the front, indicating it was designated for non-commercial purposes outside the numbered edition of 100. The sheet also bears the embossed artist's stamp on the lower corner. "Beau Geste I" is accompanied by its original gallery Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring verification for collectors and institutions. Within Motherwell's extensive print production, this lithograph stands as a refined testament to his command of abstraction and his sustained engagement with the poetic capacity of form.

About Robert Motherwell

Robert Motherwell (January 24, 1915 – July 16, 1991) was an American painter, printmaker, and writer, widely regarded as a central figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement. Known for his philosophical approach to art and his ability to merge gesture, form, and emotional intent, Motherwell helped define the visual and intellectual foundation of postwar American abstraction. His career encompassed painting, collage, printmaking, and critical writing, positioning him not only as a pioneering studio artist but also as one of the movement's most articulate theorists.

Born in Aberdeen, Washington, and raised between the West Coast and California, Motherwell studied philosophy, literature, and aesthetics before fully committing to art. He attended Stanford University and Harvard University, where exposure to continental philosophy and modernist thought shaped his understanding of art as a language of ideas. His early academic background differentiated him from many of his contemporaries and contributed to his later reputation as Abstract Expressionism's leading intellectual.

Motherwell moved to New York in the early 1940s, becoming deeply involved with a community of emerging artists that included Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and Barnett Newman. His first solo exhibition in 1944 at Peggy Guggenheim's Art of This Century Gallery marked his formal entry into the New York art world. He also served as a key figure in bringing European modernism to America, engaging closely with exiled Surrealists and helping introduce the technique of automatism, which played a significant role in shaping Abstract Expressionist methodology.

One of Motherwell's most iconic series, Elegy to the Spanish Republic, became the foundation of his international reputation. Comprising more than 100 related works, the series utilizes repeated black ovals and vertical bars set against stark white or colored fields. Although abstract, the works evoke themes of political struggle, loss, and historical memory, reflecting Motherwell's conviction that art should remain connected to human experience. Alongside painting, Motherwell made significant contributions to printmaking, collaborating with leading publishers and advancing the medium through technically innovative lithographs and etchings. His prints remain highly sought-after in the art market and are considered an essential component of his oeuvre.

In addition to his studio practice, Motherwell was influential as an editor and writer. He founded and edited the groundbreaking publication The Documents of Modern Art, helping shape American understanding of modernism. His commitment to art education and theory strengthened his legacy as a cultural leader who shaped both artistic practice and discourse.

Motherwell's works are held in major museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Guggenheim Museum, and the National Gallery of Art. Today, Robert Motherwell is remembered as a foundational artist in American art history, celebrated for his innovative contributions to Abstract Expressionism, his mastery of painting and printmaking, and his role in advancing modernist thought in the United States.