Untitled 1955

Robert Motherwell created this Untitled collage using paper and gouache sometime in the mid-20th century. Motherwell, deeply affected by the Spanish Civil War, sought to explore themes of political turmoil and human vulnerability in his art. Here, the pasted fragments evoke a sense of fragility, like remnants of a shattered world. The 'Glass: Handle with Care' label poignantly captures our own precariousness, an emotional appeal to value what is easily broken. Motherwell worked within the predominantly male-dominated Abstract Expressionist movement, yet his work introduced a deeply personal and humanistic element. It's interesting to consider how, through this non-traditional medium, he still maintained the avant-garde approach of his time. Like the fragmented identities we often carry, this collage reminds us of the delicate balance between destruction and preservation, chaos and order, in our lives and in society.