(1915-1991), alongside Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning, made up the quartet of abstract painters that radically defined Modern painting in America and established New York City as the new center of the art world.

Motherwell was the unofficial spokesman of the New York School, writing, editing a journal, and lecturing on behalf of the movement, his fellow artists, and the merits of abstraction. 

The Africa Suite portfolio is an important part of Motherwell's printmaking oeuvre because of its celebration of gestural black forms and their simplicity.  In this body of work, Motherwell asks the spirit of abstract expressionism to confront minimalism.

"Africa Suite #10" is one of most striking examples from this iconic series of prints. It features a bold yet very ambiguous black shape against a warm neutral color field. The simplicity of this composition recalls a graphic Rorschach test. An organic form swells across the page and begs the viewer to interpret its presence. Is this shape representing something menacing or friendly? Or is it simply an abstraction? How do you interpret this shape? 

Motherwell's contribution to the art historical canon is undisputed. This recognition is imbued as a result of his prolific achievements in printmaking. He is revered as one of the most experimental and courageous printmakers of the 20th century. 

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“Africa Suite #10" 

USA, 1970

Colour Screenprint on J.B. green paper

Initialed and dated in pencil, lower margin

Artist’s blind stamp lower right

From an edition of 150

40.75"H 28.25"W (work)

Framed

Very good condition.

Published by Marlborough Graphics, Inc., New York.

Note: additional images coming soon.