Photographs by Robert Coynes

Robert Motherwell: A Retrospective Exhibition was the largest display of Motherwell’s (1915–1991) work assembled to date, with 47 works on view. Spanning the years 1941–1961, these objects represented a variety of mediums and formats. They included ink on paper, casein on composition board and oil on Masonite. They ranged in size from 8 by 10 inch studies to 6 by 13 feet paintings. The exhibition’s organizers produced a catalogue that included reprinted essays by Frank O’Hara and Sam Hunter and an original text by Motherwell. Here, Motherwell wrote, “The value of an artist’s testimony derives from his discipline in truthfulness to his own experience. Such experience is limited, but specific.” On March 6, the artist spoke at the museum to offer closing remarks for the exhibition.