Motherwell decided to augment Elegy Sketch of 1987 by adding a background color to the red-ochre linear composition. He hand-painted several unsigned impressions, the original work proof and the first edition proof of Elegy Sketch and chose a gray background for State I. Before the final color was chosen, several alternatives were printed, including red, but only the gray impression was signed. Motherwell intended to have Tyler Graphics reprint the remaining unsigned impressions of Elegy Sketch, which had been set aside in 1987, with this new background color as a separate version of the image. Work on this project was incomplete when Motherwell died in 1991, and the edition was never printed. The bon à tirer impression was donated to the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

Post Lot Text

According to Dedalus’ records the current lot is the only impression that was given an edition number: 1/175. The rest of the edition was never signed; and an unknown number were printed.