Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 70
Robert Motherwell
ROBERT MOTHERWELL, 1961. OIL ON CANVAS.
More than 100 paintings, each one a lament for what was lost after the Spanish Civil War. Rough, visceral black ovoid forms cover each canvas, while stark white rectangles rhythmically divide the space. They are an extended meditation on life and death, inspired in equal parts by contemporary poetry, surrealism and history. Motherwell employed the use of automatism, allowing his subconscious self to control the paint. He transmitted his emotions unfiltered onto canvas, the fury and frustration with the war and the hope he felt for life ahead dance in jagged dialogue. For Motherwell, the "Elegies" serve as a personal testament to the tragedy of war, a reminder that such profound loss should never be forgotten. Yet, beyond their specific historical context, they also function as universal symbols, exploring the eternal contrast between life and death and their intricate interplay.