Robert Motherwell Beau Geste IV 1989 Signed Lithograph Edition of 100

Artist: Robert Motherwell
Title: Beau Geste IV
Medium: Lithograph in Colors on Georges Duchene Paper
Year: 1989
Image Size: 22" x 15"
Edition: AP V/XV
Inscription: Signed and Numbered in Pencil with Embossed Artist's Stamp on Front
Documentation: Includes Original Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

"Beau Geste IV" is one of several lithographs executed by Robert Motherwell in 1989, a period in which the artist revisited themes of gesture, structure, and visual restraint through the printmaking medium. As with much of Motherwell's work from the late twentieth century, the lithograph reflects his commitment to the expressive potential of simplified form and the clarity made possible through disciplined mark making.

The lithographic process allows for a direct transfer of the artist's drawn or brushed imagery onto the printing surface, preserving subtle variations in pressure and line. In "Beau Geste IV", Motherwell uses this capability to create a composition that blends gestural movement with a sense of compositional order. The juxtaposition of dark and light forms conveys an atmosphere of introspection rather than dramatic contrast, reflecting the reflective character found throughout the Beau Geste series.

Printed in an edition of one hundred impressions, this example is numbered AP V/XV (Artist Proof 5 of 15) and features Motherwell's pencil signature, edition marking, and embossed stamp on the front. These details confirm the work's authenticity and its place in the documented edition. The piece is presented in a frame measuring 30.5 by 23.25 inches and is accompanied by the original gallery Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring secure provenance and suitability for display.

Within the broader context of Motherwell's printmaking practice, "Beau Geste IV" stands as a refined example of his late-career exploration of abstraction. Its controlled gestures, carefully balanced composition, and understated visual language demonstrate the discipline and clarity that define Motherwell's contributions to postwar American art.

About Robert Motherwell

Robert Motherwell (1915–1991) was a pioneering American artist, educator, and theorist whose contributions to Abstract Expressionism solidified his place as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century modern art. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, and raised in California, Motherwell initially pursued philosophy at Stanford University, continuing graduate studies at Harvard, where he developed a rigorous intellectual foundation that informed his artistic practice. This background contributed to the conceptual depth and formal sophistication that characterize his work. Motherwell's paintings are renowned for their large scale, gestural brushwork, and dramatic use of color, combining abstraction with emotional and historical resonance. His Elegy to the Spanish Republic series, begun in the late 1940s, exemplifies this synthesis. In these works, repeated biomorphic shapes and bold black forms create a rhythmically structured yet emotionally charged visual language, linking personal expression with broader political and historical contexts.

Motherwell was equally important as a printmaker. He produced an extensive range of lithographs, etchings, and screenprints that parallel the compositional concerns of his paintings. His prints reveal his mastery of technical processes and his ability to translate the energy and gesture of his canvases onto paper. This dual mastery of painting and printmaking has secured Motherwell's reputation as a versatile and innovative artist. His work is included in the permanent collections of major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Tate, and other international museums, ensuring that his contributions are preserved and studied worldwide. Regional institutions, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Norton Simon Museum, have also mounted exhibitions that highlight the interplay between his printed and painted works, emphasizing the coherence and evolution of his practice over decades.

Beyond his artistic production, Motherwell played a critical role as an educator and intellectual within the postwar American art scene. He taught at universities, curated exhibitions, and authored critical essays that articulated the theoretical and aesthetic foundations of Abstract Expressionism. Engaging with contemporaries such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning, Motherwell helped shape the discourse around abstraction and its expressive possibilities. Retrospectives, scholarly monographs, and catalogues raisonnes confirm his enduring impact, positioning him as both an innovator and a thought leader. Motherwell's work represents a remarkable integration of expressive gesture, formal experimentation, and philosophical reflection, establishing him as a seminal figure in American modernism whose influence extends across painting, printmaking, and art theory.