Richard Diebenkorn – Sugarlift Spade, 1982 – Aquatint

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Aquatint on Rives BFK - Signed, dated and numbered in pencil

Richard Diebenkorn, Sugarlift Spade is a 1982 aquatint printed on Rives BFK paper. This abstract composition, rendered in black and white, features bold, organic shapes that curve and overlap within a square frame. The central figure resembles a spade, created with flowing, irregular forms, and areas of negative space. The use of the sugarlift aquatint technique adds texture and depth to the image, with subtle variations in tone and surface. The bold contrast between the dark and light areas emphasizes the interplay between form and void, a hallmark of Diebenkorn’s explorations in abstraction. Hand-signed, dated, and numbered by the artist in pencil, this limited-edition print is an example of Diebenkorn's distinctive approach to printmaking, where simplicity of form meets complexity in execution.

Richard Diebenkorn (USA, 1922–1993) was a celebrated painter and printmaker, known for his transition from abstract expressionism to figurative work and back to abstraction. His Ocean Park series, inspired by the landscapes of California, features luminous, geometric compositions. Diebenkorn’s art bridges abstraction and representation, leaving a profound impact on modern art.

Richard Diebenkorn

Sugarlift Spade, 1982

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Aquatint

AquatintIntaglio is a printmaking technique where the artist creates marks on a metal plate that hold ink or dye. The inked plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the ink to the sheet. This process can be repeated multiple times depending on the technique. Intaglio methods, such as etching, often involve applying a mordant (acid) to the metal plate to create the design. Intaglio encompasses various techniques, including engraving, etching, and drypoint.

Edition

Edition of 35

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Mistakes can't be erased, but they move you from your present position.
- Richard Diebenkorn

Arguably best known for his Ocean Park paintings, Richard Diebenkorn was a painter and printmaker with early roots in abstract expressionism and a later involvement with the Bay Area Figurative Movement throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. His move to figuration saw works such as Girl On a Terrace come to light – he employed a range of soft, subtle colours to create his simple depictions of life at the time. Diebenkorn explored figuration for a decade or so before he returned to his abstraction origins – this is when he began to compile the Ocean Park series, a selection of works that, while abstract, still managed to capture the essence of the landscape and the times he was living among. While it could be stated that his artistic career was divided into three different segments – abstraction, figuration and abstraction once again – Diebenkorn was not afraid to mix the two, and his portraits were usually a striking blend of the two. His work has frequently been compared to that of Willem De Kooning – an artist that Diebenkorn has often cited as an inspiration. (Artist website)

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Richard Diebenkorn

Sugarlift Spade, 1982

80.6 x 66.7 cm

Richard Diebenkorn

Sugarlift Spade, 1982

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