Details
Description
An expressive modernist painting after Robert Motherwell's celebrated 1947 composition The Emperor of China, an important work from the formative …
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An expressive modernist painting after Robert Motherwell's celebrated 1947 composition The Emperor of China, an important work from the formative years of American Abstract Expressionism.
The original painting belongs to a pivotal period in Motherwell's career, when he was exploring the relationship between abstraction, symbolism, and the human figure. Rather than depicting an emperor literally, Motherwell reduced the figure to powerful, simplified shapes, creating an image that suggests both authority and vulnerability.
This interpretation preserves the distinctive structure of Motherwell's composition while introducing a sophisticated palette of muted sage green, warm ivory, and soft cream. Broad, sculptural forms and a richly textured painted surface lend the work a strong visual presence, while delicate linear details introduce a sense of movement and tension.
Initialed "RM" at the lower right, the painting is presented in a substantial, richly grained wood frame with black and gold-tone detailing. The contrast between the rustic frame and minimalist composition gives the piece a distinctive decorative character.
About the Original Artwork
Created in 1947, The Emperor of China is recognized as a significant example of Motherwell's early exploration of figurative abstraction. The original, an oil painting on Masonite measuring 48 × 36 inches, reflects the influence of European Surrealism and Cubism on the emerging New York School.
Its imagery has been studied for its symbolic treatment of power, identity, and human vulnerability. Motherwell's innovative approach helped establish the expressive visual vocabulary that would define postwar American art.
Details
Artist: After Robert Motherwell (American, 1915–1991)
Subject: The Emperor of China (original composition, 1947)
Style: Abstract Expressionism, Modernist, Mid-Century Modern
Colors: Sage green, ivory, cream
Dimensions: 13 × 17 inches
Presentation: Framed in wood with black and gold-tone accents
Signature: Initialed "RM" lower right
Attribution: Interpretive work after Robert Motherwell; not represented as an original work by the artist
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- Dimensions
- 13ʺW × 2ʺD × 17ʺH
- Styles
- Abstract
- Art Subjects
- Abstract
- Frame Type
- Framed
- Styled After
- Robert Motherwell
- Period
- 1980s
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Paint
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Green
- Condition Notes
- Presents well, with a visibly textured painted surface. The vintage-style wood frame displays natural patina and minor wear that contribute … morePresents well, with a visibly textured painted surface. The vintage-style wood frame displays natural patina and minor wear that contribute to its character. less
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