Photographs
Descriptive Summary
Title: Robert Motherwell Archive: Photographs
Creator: Robert Motherwell and his studio, and the Dedalus Foundation
Date: 1915-present
Extent: 62.5 linear feet of photographs.
Repository: Dedalus Foundation, Inc.
254 36th Street, Suite 2-BE
Brooklyn, New York 11232
Administrative Information
PROCESSING INFORMATION
Processed 2005 by Gretchen Opie.
OWNERSHIP AND LITERARY RIGHTS
Written permission must be obtained in order to reproduce any item from the Dedalus Foundation Archives. Additionally, permission to reproduce materials for which the Dedalus Foundation does not own copyright must be obtained from the copyright holder.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
There are more than 30,000 photographs in the Foundation's collection. In addition to images of nearly all of Motherwell's artworks, there are thousands of exhibition and studio photographs, portraits, slides Motherwell used when he gave lectures, personal photographs of family and friends, and other images.
Container List
Works Photographs
Photographs of individual artworks make up about eighty percent of the photograph archive, totalling more than 24,000 photographs in a various formats-transparencies, prints, slides, polaroids, and negatives. This series contains images of nearly all works of art that Motherwell made. In a number cases, there are photographs of the work in progress or earlier states of a piece in addition to the final image. The series is arranged in two subseries: Unique Works (paintings, collages, paintings on paper, and drawings) and Prints (including monotypes, unique proofs and tapestries).
Exhibition Photographs
Art of This Century, New York, Robert Motherwell: Paintings, Papiers Collés, Drawings, October 24-November 11, 1944
Fourteen 3" x 3" black and white glass negatives
1944
Samuel M. Kootz Gallery, New York, Paintings and Collages by Motherwell, May 10-29, 1948
Ten 8" x 10" black and white prints
1948
Samuel M. Kootz Gallery, New York, Robert Motherwell: Paintings, Drawings, and Collages, April 1-19, 1952
Seven 8 x 10 black and white prints; five 3.5 x 4" transparencies
1952
Kirby Student Center, University of Minnesota-Duluth, "Exhibition"
Three 8 x 10 black and white prints
1956
Bennington College, The New Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: First Retrospective Exhibition"
Six 8 x 10 black and white prints
1959
Sidney Janis Gallery, "Robert Motherwell"
Eleven 8 x 10 black and white prints
1959
Museu de Arte Moderna, "VI Bienal de So Paulo"
Four 8 x 10 black and white prints
1961
New Gallery, Charles Hayden Memorial Library, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "Robert Motherwell "
One 8 x 10 black and white prints; thirty-five 35mm color slides
1963
The Museum of Modern Art, Robert Motherwell, 1965 (New York City).
Twenty-two 8 x 10 black and white prints; three contact sheets; nine 35 mm color slides
Includes scenes from the opening reception with Motherwell, Frank O'Hara, Nelson A. Rockefeller, and other guests.
1965
The Museum of Modern Art, Robert Motherwell, 1965 (Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels).
Nine 35mm color slides
1965
The Museum of Modern Art, Robert Motherwell, 1965 (Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam).
Twenty-two 35mm color slides
1965
The Museum of Modern Art, Robert Motherwell, 1965 (unknown venue, possibly Whitechapel Art Gallery, London)
Sixteen 35mm color slides
1965
Robert Motherwell: Works on Paper (circulated by the Museum of Modern Art, New York), 1965
1965
The National Museum of Modern Art, "Two Decades of American Painting"
1966
Sobre Papel: Obras de Arshile Gorky y Robert Motherwell, The Museum of Modern Art, 1967: 1 of 2
1967
Sobre Papel: Obras de Arshile Gorky y Robert Motherwell, The Museum of Modern Art, 1967: 2 of 2
1967
Whitney Museum of American Art, "Robert Motherwell: Collages"
1968
Marlborough-Gerson Gallery, "Robert Motherwell ÔOpen' Series 1967 -1969"
1969
The Museum of Modern Art, "The New American Painting and Sculpture: The First Generation"
1969
David Mirvish Gallery, "Robert Motherwell"
1970
Fendrick Gallery, "Robert Motherwell"
1972
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "A la Pintura"
1972
The Museum of Fine Arts, "The Collages of Robert Motherwell: A Retrospective Exhibition"
1972
The Museum of Fine Arts, "The Collages of Robert Motherwell: A Retrospective Exhibition" (Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford)
1972
Walker Art Center, "Robert Motherwell: Recent Paintings"
1972
Amerika-Haus, "A la pintura"
1973
John Berggruen Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings, Collages & Drawings "
1973
Tirca Karlis Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Recent Sketches and Graphics"
1973
David Mirvish Gallery, "Robert Motherwell"
1973
The Princeton University Art Museum, "Robert Motherwell: Recent Work"
1973
Galerie Andr Emmerich, "Robert Motherwell: New Paintings, Collages and Graphics"
1974
Knoedler Contemporary Art, "Robert Motherwell: Recent Paintings and Collages"
1974
Tibor de Nagy Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings & Collages"
1974
Tibor de Nagy Gallery, "Robert Motherwell Print Exhibition"
1974
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, "Twelve American Painters"
1974
Ace Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Major Paintings & Collages"
1975
Galerie Emmerich at Basel Art Fair, "Basel Art Fair"
1975
Knoedler Contemporary Art, "Robert Motherwell: Recent Paintings and Collages"
1975
Museo de Arte Moderno, Bosque de Chapultepec, "Robert Motherwell: Retrospectiva del Gran Pintor Norteamericano"
1975
Stanford University Law School, "Installation"
1975
Brooke Alexander, "Robert Motherwell: Monotypes"
1976
The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, "Aspects of Postwar Painting in America" (Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1977)
1976
Knoedler & Co. at Paris Art Fair, Grand Palais, "FIAC 76: 3rd International Contemporary Art Fair"
1976
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, "Twentieth Century American Drawing: Three Avant-Garde Generations"
1976
Janie C. Lee Gallery, "Robert Motherwell "
1976
Knoedler Contemporary Art, "Robert Motherwell: Recent Paintings and Collages"
1976
Stdtische Kunsthalle, "Robert Motherwell "
1976
Galerie Brusberg, "Andr Emmerich bei Brusberg"
1977
Galerie Andr Emmerich, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings"
1977
The Royal Scottish Academy, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings and Collages 1941 -1977"
1977
Admiral's House, Vice-Presidential Mansion, "[Private Loan Exhibition]"
1977
Janie C. Lee Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Collages, Drawings, Paintings"
1978
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell"
1978
National Gallery of Art, "American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist"
1978
Royal Academy of Arts, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings and Collages from 1941 to the Present" (1 of 4)
1978
Royal Academy of Arts, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings and Collages from 1941 to the Present" (2 of 4)
1978
Royal Academy of Arts, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings and Collages from 1941 to the Present" (3 of 4)
1978
Royal Academy of Arts, "Robert Motherwell: Paintings and Collages from 1941 to the Present" (4 of 4)
1978
Turske Gallery at Paris Art Fair, Grand Palais, "Paris Art Fair"
1978
Brooke Alexander, "Robert Motherwell: Prints 1977-1979"
1979
Janie C. Lee Gallery, "Robert Motherwell Drawings: A Retrospective, 1941 to the Present"
1979
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Caracas, "David Smith / Robert Motherwell"
1979
Pace Gallery, "5 Action Painters of the 50's"
1979
The William Benton Museum of Art, The University of Connecticut, "Robert Motherwell & Black "
1979
Harcus Krakow Gallery, "Robert Motherwell"
1980
City Art Centre and Fruitmarket Gallery, "American Abstract Expressionists"
1981
Knoedler & Co, "Robert Motherwell & Black"
1981
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: A Selection from Recent Work"
1982
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, "Robert Motherwell" (1 of 3)
1983
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, "Robert Motherwell" (2 of 3)
1983
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, "Robert Motherwell" (3 of 3)
1983
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, "Robert Motherwell" (Corcoran Gallery of Art)
1983
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, "Robert Motherwell" (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
1983
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, "Robert Motherwell" (Seattle Art Museum)
1983
Knoedler & Co., "Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell, David Smith"
1983
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: El Negro"
1983
Provincetown Art Association and Museum, "Robert Motherwell: Tribute to James Joyce"
1983
Provincetown Art Association and Museum, "Robert Motherwell: Tribute to James Joyce" (Long Point Gallery)
1983
Visual Arts Museum, School of Visual Arts, "Robert Motherwell Drawings"
1983
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, "Robert Motherwell" (1 of 3)
1984
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, "Robert Motherwell" (2 of 3)
1984
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, "Robert Motherwell" (3 of 3)
1984
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: New Collages"
1984
The Fort Worth Art Museum, "Robert Motherwell: Stephen's Iron Crown and Related Works"
1985
Walker Art Center, "Robert Motherwell: The Collaged Image"
1985
Galera Joan Prats, "Robert Motherwell"
1986
Galera Joan Prats, "Robert Motherwell" (Galera Juana Mord)
1986
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: New Work"
1986
Sala Pelaires, "Robert Motherwell / Jim Bird"
1986
The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, "Connecticut Artists"
1987
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: Major Works from the 1980's"
1987
The Museum of Modern Art, "Gifts of Works on Paper by Robert Motherwell"
1987
Associated American Artists, "Robert Motherwell: Forty-Five Years of Printmaking"
1988
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: The Summer 1987 Collage Series: ''The Red and Black'' and Other Unexhibited Works"
1988
Sert Gallery, Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard University, "Robert Motherwell: Two Books"
1989
Knoedler & Co. , "Robert Motherwell: New Work"
1989
Marisa del Re Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Selected Drawings "
1989
Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, "Robert Motherwell"
1989
Waddington Graphics, "Robert Motherwell"
1989
Artcurial Centre d'Art Plastique Contemporain, "Robert Motherwell: Peintures et Collages, 1969-1990"
1990
Associated American Artists, "The Prints of Robert Motherwell: A Retrospective"
1990
Knoedler & Company, "Selected Works By Gallery Artists"
1990
Long Point Gallery, "Motherwell / Rothschild"
1990
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: From The Studio"
1991
Galeria Joan Prats at the Basel Art Fair, "Robert Motherwell"
1991
Museo Rufino Tamayo, "Robert Motherwell: The Open Door "
1991
Museo Rufino Tamayo, "Robert Motherwell: The Open Door " (Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth)
1991
The Armory, "Artists of the Hamptons "
1992
Walker Art Center, "Robert Motherwell: Spanish Elegies"
1992
Knoedler & Company, "Robert Motherwell: The Open Series"
1993
Station Gallery, "Celebrating Long Point"
1993
Knoedler & Co., "Robert Motherwell: At Five in the Afternoon / Elegies to the Spanish Republic"
1994
Center for Contemporary Graphic Art, "The Prints of Robert Motherwell"
1996
The Jewish Museum, "Recent Acquisitions, 1993-1995"
1996
Mira Godard Gallery, "Robert Motherwell Prints"
1997
Bobbie Greenfield Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: The Artist At Work (A Survey Of Prints And Related Unique Pieces"
1997
Manny Silverman Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Works on Paper 1950 -1991"
1997
Knoedler & Co. , "Epic Painting: Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell, Richard Pousette-Dart"
1998
Long Fine Art, "Robert Motherwell: Provincetown Summers"
1998
Dedalus Foundation, Inc., "Gallery Installation Views" (1 of 2)
1999
Dedalus Foundation, Inc., "Gallery Installation Views" (2 of 2)
1999
Manny Silverman Gallery, "Willem De Kooning, Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell"
1999
Manny Silverman Gallery, "Robert Motherwell Prints"
2001
The Century Club, "Robert Motherwell "
1987
Manny Silverman Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Themes & Variations Including the Dedalus Sketchbook"
2002
Jerald Melberg Gallery, "Robert Motherwell: Works on Paper"
2003
Bobbie Greenfield Gallery, "Red: An Exhibition of Prints by Robert Motherwell"
2004
Knoedler & Co., "3 Classics: Motherwell, Frankenthaler, Stella"
2004
Bobbie Greenfield Gallery , "Robert Motherwell: Africa Suite: Ink Drawings and Related Prints"
2006
Studio Photographs
There are about 600 images of Motherwell's studios (and occasionally his homes), dating from 1957 to 1991. The series documents the progress of his painting, early states of some works, and the order and groupings in which they were made.
Painted Polaroids
As part of Motherwell's working process he sometimes took multiple polaroids of works in progress and painted over them, experimenting with different compositions and color combinations. This series contains over two hundred polaroids of thirty-nine different paintings, most from the 1980s.
Lecture Slides
These slides are divided into two sections: the bulk of them are from the time when Motherwell was a professor at Hunter College and was a guest lecturer at other schools and for various events. These slides seem not to be arranged in any particular way, although their order on the original slide carousel and storage boxes was maintained. There are a preponderance of Picasso slides, owing to the fact that Motherwell taught entire courses on Picasso, and many of other modern artists. The second set of slides is carefully broken into four parts by Motherwell for a series of lectures he gave in 1977.
Portraits, Events, and Personal Photographs
Childhood and family photographs (20 images)
1915-1935
Maria Motherwell
ca. 1940s
Artists in Exile, Pierre Matisse Gallery
Mar-42
Robert Motherwell in his Greenwich Village studio
1943
Robert Motherwell at Art of This Century show (2 images)
1944
Robert Motherwell and Max Ernst (2 images)
1944
Robert Motherwell in his Quonset hut studio
1944
Robert Motherwell in his East Hampton studio (2 images)
1946
Plaster original of Max Ernst's The King Playing with the Queen en route to Robert Motherwell's studio in East Hampton
ca. 1947
Portrait of Robert Motherwell by Hans Namuth
1948
Forum 49
1949
Robert Motherwell teaching at Black Mountain College
1950
Robert and Betty Motherwell outside his Quonset hut studio
1950
Robert Motherwell painting in his studio
1950
The Irascibles
1951
Portraits of Robert Motherwell by Budd (2 images)
1951
Robert Motherwell with Mark Rothko and Bradley Walker Tomlin at the Rockefeller Guest House
1951
Robert Motherwell with Mark Rothko at a conference in Woodstock
1952
Robert Motherwell in Frankfort, Germany
1955
Robert Motherwell at opening of his show at Albright Art Gallery
15-May-57
Portrait of Robert Motherwell
1957
Vacation slides, Spain (5 images)
1958
Robert Motherwell with David Smith in Cape Cod (2 images)
Summer 1959
Robert Motherwell with Mark Rothko and family in Cape Cod (4 images)
Summer 1959
Helen Frankenthaler
1959
Helen Frankenthaler
ca. early 1950s
Family slides, (8 images)
ca. late 1950s
Vacation slides, Europe, with Helen Frankenthaler (34 images)
1960
Portrait of Robert Motherwell seated in front of two paintings
ca. 1960
Robert Motherwell with Philip Guston
ca. 1960
Fordham-Toulouse [?]
ca. 1960s
Vacation slides, England, with Helen Frankenthaler (25 images)
1961
Vacation slides, Paris, with Helen Frankenthaler (18 images)
1961
Family slides, Provincetown, with Helen Frankenthaler (44 images)
Summer 1961
Robert Motherwell teaching a class of University of Miami (4 images)
Jan-62
Vacation slides, Florida, with Helen Frankenthaler (52 images)
1962
Vacation slides, David Smith's home, with Helen Frankenthaler (16 images)
1962
Family slides, Provincetown, with Helen Frankenthaler (7 images)
Summer 1962
Man standing in front of painting
1962
Robert Motherwell at opening at Smith College Museum
1963
Family slides, Provincetown, with Helen Frankenthaler (8 images)
Summer 1963
Family slides, Provincetown, with Helen Frankenthaler, Francine du Plessix Gray, and others (16 images)
1964
Vacation slides, Europe, with Helen Frankenthaler (15 images)
Summer 1964
Vacation slides, David Smith's home and sculptures, Bolton Landing (20 images)
1964
Hans Hofmann at opening of Robert Motherwell retrospective, Museum of Modern Art
1965
Robert Motherwell at an unidentified reception (3 images)
ca. 1966
Family slides, Provincetown (5 images)
summer 1967
Robert Motherwell's mother, Margaret Leland and Gerald Nordland (copy of photograph published in the San Francisco Chronicle)
1967
Tatyana Grosman with proof from A la Pintura at ULAE
1968
Robert Motherwell in his Provincetown studio (2 images)
1969
Robert Motherwell in his Provincetown studio (2 images)
1968
Portraits of Robert Motherwell, by Dan Budnick (5 images)
1969
Robert Motherwell with Granada at Nelson Rockefeller's home
1969
Robert Motherwell and Helen Frankenthaler in Provincetown (copied from Newspaper photograph)
ca. early 1960s
Snapshot of Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, David Smith, and others
ca. early 1960s
Helen Frankenthaler passport photograph
ca. early 1960s
Portrait of Robert Motherwell by Peter A. Juley
ca. early 1960s
Portraits of Robert Motherwell, probably by Morton Levine (23 images)
ca. 1960s
Portraits of Robert Motherwell by Hans Namuth (10 images)
ca. 1960s
Robert Motherwell at restaurant ''Le Cremaillere''
ca. 1960s
Portrait of Robert Motherwell
ca. 1960s
Robert Motherwell and Dan Budnick [?]
ca. 1960s
Robert Motherwell and others jurying an exhibit (3 images)
ca. 1960s
Portraits of Robert Motherwell by Alexander Liberman (2 images)
ca. 1960s
Portrait of Robert Motherwell by Ugo Mulas
ca. late 1960s
Robert Motherwell at an opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5 images)
1970
Mark Rothko's studio, taken shortly after his death (8 images)
1970
Robert Motherwell and his daughters, Greenwich (22 images)
1971
Jack Tworkov, Kilbrain, Myron Stout, Edwin Dickenson and Robert Mothewell jurying a new England exhibition
1971
Robert Motherwell working on prints at Galerie Im Erker (7 images)
1971
Robert Motherwell in the garden of his Greenwich home
1972
Robert Motherwell at a ULAE garden party with Tatyana Grosman and others
1972
Robert Motherwell signing A la Pintura with Tatyana Grosman and Don Stuart (3 images)
1972
Robert Motherwell in his Greenwich studio with Elegy No. 125 in progress
1972
Robert Motherwell and Claus Freyberger
1972
Robert Motherwell working on prints at Galerie Im Erker (4 images)
1972
Robert Motherwell looking out at the sea in Provincetown
Mar-72
Robert Motherwell and Renate Ponsold at Fendrick Gallery
Nov-72
Lise Motherwell (2 images)
ca. 1973
Robert Motherwell with daughter Jeannie, receiving an honorary doctorate at Bard College
26-May-73
Robert Motherwell working with Catherine Mosley in his printmaking studio
Nov-73
Robert Motherwell with Arthur Cohen at Knoedler Gallery
1974
Robert Motherwell working at Tyler Graphics Workshop (7 images)
1974
Robert Motherwell with Renate Ponsold
ca. 1974
View of the sea from Provincetown
1975
Robert Motherwell at Stadtische Kunsthalle press conference
1976
Robert Motherwell and Derek Southall (2 images)
1976
Bob Bigelow and John Scofield
1976
Robert Motherwell at the opening of his retrospective, Museum des 20, Vienna (8 images)
1977
Robert Motherwell with Barbara Rose at Storm King (5 images)
1977
Installation views of David Smith exhibition, National Gallery
1978
Robert Motherwell and Henry Moore (3 images)
1978
Royal Academy of Arts, London
1978
Renate Ponsold Motherwell
1978
Robert Motherwell receiving gold medal from City of Paris (21 images)
1978
Robert Motherwell working on proofs at Tyler Graphics (9 images)
1979
Portrait of Jeannie Motherwell by Norma Holt
1979
Portrait of Lise Motherwell by Matee
1979
Jeannie Motherwell with Candida and Rebecca Smith
1979
Mel Paskell
1979
Robert Motherwell with At Five in the Afternoon
ca. 1970s
Robert Motherwell working at Tyler Graphics
ca. 1980
Robert Motherwell with Rafael Alberti
ca. 1980
Robert Motherwell with Renate Ponsold
ca. 1980
Robert Motherwell, Renate Ponsold and Rafael Alberti at Ken Tyler's studio
1981
Robert Motherwell with Hans Namuth at Tyler Graphics
1982
Robert Motherwell working at Tyler Graphics (7 images)
1982
Robert Motherwell signing El Negro (5 images)
1983
Emerson Woelffer's studio and art collection
1984
Robert Motherwell in his Provincetown printmaking studio
1985
Portrait of Robert Motherwell in his Greenwich studio
1986
Color portrait of Robert Motherwell in his Greenwich studio
1986
Robert Motherwell seated in front of Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. LXX
1986
Robert Motherwell and Tony Vevers
1986
Robert Motherwell with Constance Emmerich and Kenneth Noland
1986
Portrait of Robert Motherwell in Provincetown
1987
Robert Motherwell and Ken Tyler at opening at Greenwich Library (6 images)
1987
Robert Motherwell signing a print with Ken Tyler (2 images)
1987
Robert Motherwell at Tyler Graphics opening
1987
Portraits of Robert Motherwell (2 images)
1988
Robert Motherwell receiving French Consil award (19 images)
1988
Robert Motherwell and Renate Ponsold
ca. 1989
Robert Motherwell working on The Grand Inquisitor
1989
Robert Motherwell with Carmen Cicero
1989
Robert Motherwell at a party in Provincetown
1989
Robert Motherwell receiving the National Medal of Arts at the White House (3 images)
1989
Robert Motherwell at an opening at the Guggenheim
1989
Robert Motherwell with Renate Ponsold
ca. 1980s
Robert Motherwell working on prints
ca. 1980s
Portrait of Robert Motherwell in his Greenwich studio
ca. late 1980s
Portrait of Robert Motherwell
1991
Robert Motherwell with Ken Tyler
1991
Ken Tyler at opening at Tyler Graphics (3 images)
1991