A Seller's Guide to Robert Motherwell

Motherwell’s printmaking repertoire includes lithographs, screenprints, and etchings, characterised by his distinct abstract style and philosophical undertones. Their value is determined by the type of print, the rarity on the market, the edition size, and the overall condition. Some of his most in-demand lithograph prints, such as Burning Elegy (1991), have achieved over £40,000 at auction. Editions of his best-selling print, Blue Elegy (1987), have sold for as much as £70,000-£90,000 on multiple occasions in the last 20 years.

Motherwell was initially hesitant about printmaking, but it was the enthusiasm and skill of Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) founder Tatyana Grosman that convinced him to broaden his artistic output in the early 1960s. This was a turning point in his career, and resulted in his most famous body of work - the Elegy to the Spanish Republic series, consisting of over 100 works of art. The bold, gestural style of painting Motherwell was known for translated well into the medium of lithography. Motherwell and Grosman was one of the most important artistic partnerships in the history of American printmaking, and helped to establish both the ULAE as a leading print studio and printmaking itself as a legitimate form of art. As a result, the series of works they produced together is always highly sought after.

Some of Motherwell’s other high-price prints include Mediterranean Light (1991), Wave (1989), and The Red And Black (1978-88).

Authentication is essential to establishing the true value of your Motherwell print. Without proper provenance and appraisal, prints are limited in their resale value. Provenance can be traced using validated documents, such as a Certificate of Authenticity or exhibition catalogue. Motherwell’s Catalogue Raisonné contains a record of every work produced by the artist, with photographs, records of quirks and unusual details, and exhibition history before publication, which can assist professionals in authenticating prints and artworks. The most recent edition of this catalogue was published in 2003 by the Dedalus Foundation, and is available online.

Edition and Signature

All of Motherwell’s prints are signed; however, it is important to note that his signature evolved over the course of his career. Earlier prints may feature a full name signature, while later prints have a much more compressed signature or even just his initials. Equally, some prints within editions are numbered in Arabic or Roman numerals and dated, but some are not. Some bear a title, others do not. Motherwell’s method of signing did become more consistent as his career progressed, with more recent prints bearing just a signature in one of the four corners. Prints produced with a publisher, such as Tyler Graphics, will also have a blindstamp.

Some examples of signing quirks in Motherwell’s portfolio include the coloured chop marks and unique stamps of his A La Pintura series. These stamps and marks become part of the artwork itself, as they were often made in contrasting colours to add to the finish of the print as well as aid in proving authenticity. But, as all of these elements can be forged, getting the insight and expertise of someone who knows Motherwell’s work well will be crucial in determining the veracity of the print.

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After provenance and authenticity, the condition of a print is the greatest determining factor in establishing its value. Earlier prints that have changed hands multiple times are more likely to show signs of wear and tear. Some damage may be clearly visible, but issues such as fading, glue or tape residue from mounting, or small creases in the paper may be less noticeable. It is important to speak to a professional appraiser or conservator to determine how the damage will affect the sale price.

To preserve your print, ensure it remains out of direct sunlight and away from extreme temperatures and humidity. Keeping your print in a folder on acid-free paper will protect it from dust, sunlight, and moisture; so, when it comes to sell, it will be in optimal condition.

When considering the best time to sell a Motherwell print, it is essential to pay attention to significant anniversaries, major exhibitions, or retrospectives dedicated to his work. These events often generate increased interest and higher demand for his pieces. Periods following high-profile auction sales, where his work fetched record prices, can be ideal times to sell. For example, following Motherwell’s record sale of the original oil painting At Five In The Afternoon (1971) in May 2018, two lithograph prints of Blue Elegy (1987) reached record prices for a Motherwell print within the following 18 months. Collectors are generally more eager to invest in prints when the market is buzzing with activity surrounding an artist’s name. Monitoring auction house results and reading value trajectory reports from Christie’s, Phillips, Bonham’s, and Sotheby’s can provide valuable insights.

MyArtBroker offers advanced art tech tools to help you determine the optimal time to sell. Our MyPortfolio service features an AI-powered value indicator that provides real-time valuations of individual prints based on both public and private sales data. Combined with our complimentary valuations, we can help ensure your print achieves maximum value by selling at the right moment.

Selling a Robert Motherwell Via Auction House

Prestigious auction houses such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips are common venues for selling valuable artworks by artists like Motherwell. These institutions provide a professional and curated setting that attracts a wide network of collectors and stimulates competitive bidding. However, there's always a risk that the artwork may sell for less than its estimated value. Additionally, the fees and commissions for auction sales can be as high as 25%, which can significantly reduce the seller’s net earnings, particularly for prints. Besides the financial considerations, the auction process can be time-consuming and has restrictions on the number of editions accepted per sale, which may result in a backlog of artworks waiting to be auctioned. This method is rarely ideal for responding swiftly to market trends, as the artwork’s value could decrease while awaiting sale.

To learn more, read our guide to Auction v Private Sale in the Art Market.

Selling a Robert Motherwell via a Broker

Choosing to sell through a broker offers a more personalised approach. Brokers engage in detailed discussions about the artwork and your expectations, offering guidance and support throughout the process. They use their extensive knowledge and experience to navigate the art market, identifying the best time and place to sell your artwork. Brokers typically have a well-established network of buyers and collectors, facilitating direct connections with the right individuals. Their commissions usually range from 10 to 30% of the final sale price, and an exclusivity agreement is often required. Therefore, it’s wise to consult galleries familiar with Motherwell’s work before selecting your art broker.

Selling a Robert Motherwell via Online Marketplace

The appeal of selling online, including platforms like eBay, is strong in today’s digital world. These online marketplaces usually offer lower fees compared to brokers and auction houses but are largely unregulated. Sellers are responsible for managing logistics, condition checks, and pricing independently. The lack of professional authentication increases the risk of forgeries and scams. Even when proper provenance is in place, inadequate marketing, photography, and promotion can dramatically impact the sale price.

A Dedicated Broker

MyArtBroker offers a distinctive service connecting clients with their dedicated personal broker, ensuring a secure transaction through our online digital platform. Our specialists excel at sourcing direct buyers for consigned prints via our live trading floor, where users within our extensive network can express interest in specific prints and multiples by particular artists, whether they intend to sell, buy, or simply enquire about a specific print. Our team is approachable, passionate, and consistently provides updates on the art market and artists. We guide sellers through a seamless transaction process, establishing a fair market valuation based on realistic sale prices and offering free advice on the optimal timing for selling, leveraging our extensive knowledge of the art market.

Meet our team of specialist brokers.

Minimise Risk

At MyArtBroker, we prioritise transparency and security in every art sale. Our stringent due diligence process ensures the authentication and verification of artwork provenance, drawing upon our in-house expertise and collaborating with professional external contacts when needed. This approach effectively mitigates the risk of trading counterfeit or stolen art pieces. Additionally, we minimise the risks associated with public sales. While public auctions may seem appealing, unsold prints can harm an artist's market. Private sales eliminate this risk and enable quicker liquidity release for your artwork compared to adhering to strict auction schedules dictating when your work can be offered for sale.

0% Seller's Fees, 100% of the Time

Our team of specialists offers tailored services to procure rare and special edition prints, catering to both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the market. As part of our standard practice, we provide complimentary valuations and charge zero seller's fees, setting us apart from other private brokers and traditional auction houses. By minimising overhead costs, we allocate resources towards digital innovation and targeted marketing strategies within our network and house magazine.

When it comes to selling artwork, achieving the best price hinges on accessing a niche market with an established collector community. If you're looking to sell a print, turning to a specialist in the print market, like MyArtBroker, yields superior results compared to approaching an auction house, which caters to broader categories of artwork.

Our Network

Through our live trading floor we empower our network of collectors, fundamentally reshaping the art investment and trading landscape in the digital era. Offering real time market data and insights gleaned from worldwide collectors, we establish value based on convenience, accessibility, and the exceptional level of transparency and security provided to tens of thousands of users.

Read our cohesive report to navigate the art market as a seller: A Guide to Selling Prints in the Current Market.

In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.

Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jameison, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.

Emerging art tech tools are vital in navigating the current, and evolving, digital art market landscape. For instance, by adding Robert Motherwell prints from our website to the MyPortfolio dashboard, users gain insight into unique sale opportunities and observe market performance and fluctuations as they happen, streamlining the sales process effortlessly. Our pioneering technology has revolutionised art portfolio management, making it more accessible and equipping users with data-driven insights for informed decisions. MyArtBroker harnesses cutting-edge technology driven by data, coupled with a team of industry experts, to deliver an exceptional experience. Our professionals work closely with clients, utilising the MyPortfolio dashboard, to provide personalised guidance for creating a profitable art collection. By merging technology and expertise, we are committed to offering unparalleled curation and customer service.