Untitled (Automatism) 1967

"Untitled (Automatism)" is a 1967 work by American Abstract Expressionist painter Robert Motherwell (1915-1991). The work's gestural, spontaneous lines and drips of black paint create a sense of movement and energy against the pale background. It is a fine example of Motherwell’s signature style of “open” abstraction which developed from his earlier work exploring themes of life and death. This drawing, made with black ink on paper, exemplifies Motherwell’s use of black in his art and how he used his artistic process as a form of personal expression.