Published and printed by Universal Limited Art Editions, West Islip, New York, with their blindstamp

Provenance:

Dedalus Foundation, New York

Long Fine Art, New York

Acquired directly from above by the present owner

Literature:

Engberg & Banach 10

Lot Note:

Robert Motherwell’s A Throw of the Dice series, titled after Stéphane Mallarmé’s radical 1897 poem Un Coup de dés, marks a pivotal moment in his exploration of gesture and chance within printmaking. Executed at ULAE, these lithographs translate the vigorous, ink-laden brushwork of his Beside the Sea paintings into a graphic medium, with the artist striking the stone to produce bold, splattered, and calligraphic forms. Though originally conceived in black, select impressions such as the present trial proof on blue paper demonstrate his experimental approach, occasionally incorporating alternate tones or hand-applied elements. Due to the project’s spontaneous and unconventional nature, the series was never formally editioned or published, yet it remains documented and stands as a rare and significant testament to Motherwell’s commitment to innovation in printmaking.