1999
While New York City’s art scene in the 1950s and ’60s revolved around Abstract Expressionism, multidisciplinary artist Sol LeWitt paved an alternative path, creating a prolific output of work in the genres of minimalism and, later, Conceptual art.
While LeWitt is perhaps best known for his immense “wall drawings,” he created work in a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. (However, in a characteristic rebuttal of canonical art history, he referred to these pieces as “structures.”) He also produced several texts, including the seminal Sentences on Conceptual Art (1969).
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1928, LeWitt received a BFA from Syracuse University before going to work as a graphic designer for the renowned architect I.M. Pei. He would later work at the book counter at the Museum of Modern Art, where his colleagues included fellow artists. LeWitt’s early exposure to architecture may well have had outsize influence on his subsequent career: He was known for the geometric nature of his work, specifically his fastidious, near-obsessive treatment of the cube, which he rendered repeatedly in various ways throughout his paintings, structures and wall drawings.
In the 1960s, LeWitt showed in several group exhibitions throughout New York and also began to experiment with three-dimensional structures, most modular riffs on the cube shape. His work was included in “Working Drawings and Other Visible Things on Paper Not Necessarily Meant to Be Viewed as Art,” curated by Mel Bochner, another leading exponent of Conceptualism.
Later, LeWitt debuted his now-iconic wall drawings, creating work directly on the walls of galleries and show spaces, beginning with pioneering gallerist Paula Cooper’s inaugural show in 1968. The wall drawings became a prime example of LeWitt’s philosophical approach to art, with their installation often carried out by museum staff or curators following precise instructions from the artist.
“The idea,” the artist once said, “becomes a machine that makes the art.” LeWitt continued to produce work until his death in 2007.
Find a collection of original Sol LeWitt art on 1stDibs.
H 12.56 in W 8.82 in
In Shadows I Boogie (Blue)
By Harland Miller
Located in London, GB
Etching in colours with letterpress relief and a 266-page book Signed on the front and numbered on the back by the artist Print: 31.9 × 22.4 cm (12.5 x 8.8 in) Book: 32 × 23 cm (12.5...
Etching
H 12.56 in W 8.82 in
In Shadows I Boogie (Pink)
By Harland Miller
Located in London, GB
Etching in colours with letterpress relief and a 266-page book Signed on the front and numbered on the back by the artist Print: 31.9 × 22.4 cm (12.5 x 8.8 in) Book: 32 × 23 cm (12.5...
Etching
H 13.5 in W 10 in D 0.01 in
Moon Rising 1-4, Set of 4 Framed Prints, Softground Etching, Limited Edition
By Joan Winter
Located in Denton, TX
4 prints: Moon Rising 1, Moon Rising 2, Moon Rising 3, Moon Rising 4 Softground etching with chine colle Image size: 6.75 x 6 in. Paper size: 13.5 x 10 in. Frame size: 15.5 x 12.25 i...
Etching, Other Medium
H 49.875 in W 34 in
Harland Miller Demons Are Forever Etching, Contemporary, Signed, 2024
By Harland Miller
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Harland Miller Title: Demons Are Forever Medium: Etching with relief printing and extensive hand-finishing by the print studio Date: 2024 Edition: 30/100 Sheet Size: 49 7/8" ...
Etching
H 40 in W 29.5 in
Untitled
By Donald Judd
Located in New York, NY
Created by Donald Judd as an aquatint on wove paper, Untitled, 1978-79 is hand-signed and numbered in pencil, measuring 40 x 29 1/2 (101.6 x 74.9 cm.), unframed, and is from the edit...
Aquatint
H 27.5 in W 21.5 in
ANCIENT HEBREW WRITING Original Etching, Abstract Letters Turquoise, Black, Gold
By Moshe Castel
Located in Union City, NJ
ANCIENT HEBREW WRITING by the Israeli artist Moshe Castel (1909-1991) is an original etching and aquatint printed in colors with carborundum using traditional hand intaglio technique...
Printer's Ink, Archival Paper, Engraving, Etching, Aquatint
H 21 in W 16 in
Untitled
By Jasper Johns
Located in New York, NY
A color intaglio created by the artist in 2012, this original etching is hand-signed, dated and numbered in pencil, measures 21 x 16 in. (53.3 x 40.6 cm), unframed and is from the ed...
Aquatint
H 24.5 in W 17 in
ANCIENT SCRIPT Original Etching, Abstract Hebrew Letters, Stone Tablet Red Black
By Moshe Castel
Located in Union City, NJ
ANCIENT SCRIPT by the Israeli artist Moshe Castel (1909-1991) is an original etching and aquatint printed in colors with carborundum using traditional hand intaglio techniques on arc...
Engraving, Etching, Printer's Ink, Archival Paper, Aquatint
H 14.5 in W 13.88 in D 0.63 in
"Love" Vintage San Francisco Drypoint Print by S.T. Chang
Located in Soquel, CA
"Love" Vintage San Francisco Drypoint Print Abstract print featuring a stylized version of the Japanese kanji for love, 愛, by S.T. Chang (American, 20th century.) The kanji is outli...
Drypoint, Paper, Aquatint
H 24.81 in W 19.3 in D 1.19 in
1970s Toti Scialoja Abstract Signed Numbered and Dated Artwork
By Toti Scialoja
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful abstract composition by one of the most important artist of the Italian avangarde Toti Scialoja (Rome 1914 – 1998) Handmade titled and date in lower middle "Aleph, alpha, ...
Etching
Black Tulips and Lemons
By Donald Sultan
Located in New York, NY
A very good, richly-inked impression of this aquatint on Arches Watercolor paper. Initialed, dated, titled and numbered (42/54) in pencil in right margin. Full margins - sheet size: 30" x22.25". Printed by Gregory Burnet and Maurice Payne, I.M.E. Studios, New York. Published by the Jewish Museum...
Watercolor, Aquatint
Le Fantôme de l'Atelier
By Joan Miró
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color aquatint, etching and lithograph. With the artist's signature ink stamp and numbered 26/65 in pencil. With the artist's estate ink stamp and sign...
Color, Etching, Aquatint, Lithograph
In The Museum Of Modern Art (Set of 4)
By Howard Hodgkin
Located in New York, NY
Complete set of 4 soft-ground etchings (2 with hand coloring in black gouache) on BFK Rives paper. Smallest - 29 1/2"x38 3/4" , Largest - 30 3/4"x40 1/4". Each artist's proofs, aside...
Etching
Cavallo in armonia
By Marino Marini
Located in New York, NY
A superb, richly-inked impression of this color aquatint and etching. Signed and numbered 67/125 in pencil. Printed and published by Grafica dei Greci, Rome.
Color, Etching, Aquatint
Four Mother and Child Studies
By Henry Moore
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color etching and aquatint with strong colors. Signed and numbered 80/100 in pencil. Printed and published by Il Bisonte, Florence.
Color, Etching, Aquatint
Primal Sign V (Copper)
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
A very good, richly-inked impression of this scarce color aquatint on Arches Cover. Initialed and numbered 15/28 in pencil by Motherwell. Printed by Catherine Mosley at the artist's ...
Color, Aquatint
