Robert Mangold – Arabesque I

Robert Mangold's Arabesque I (from Columbus – In Search of a New Tomorrow) is a signed screenprint that exemplifies the artist's mastery of geometric abstraction and line. Printed on Arches Aquarelle paper with a deckled edge, the artwork presents a continuous, looping arabesque that subtly traverses a luminous orange field. The drawn line, at once controlled and fluid, introduces a sense of movement and spatial tension within an otherwise restrained composition.

Rather than disrupting the color field, the arabesque activates it, establishing a dynamic relationship between contour and ground. This interplay of curvature and symmetry reflects Mangold's longstanding investigation into proportion, balance, and the expressive potential of minimal means. The result is an abstract print that appears simple at first glance, yet reveals a carefully calibrated structure upon closer viewing.

Published in 1992 in a limited edition of 100 plus 30 artist's proofs, Arabesque I is hand-signed and numbered in pencil by the artist. Documented in the catalogue raisonné (Parasol Press, 2000, cat. no. RM37), Arabesque I stands as a significant example of Mangold's limited edition prints and his enduring contribution to contemporary abstract art.

Robert Mangold (born 1937, North Tonawanda, New York) is a leading figure in American abstract art, internationally recognized for his rigorously structured paintings, prints, and sculptures. Emerging in the 1960s alongside artists such as Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Frank Stella, Mangold became closely associated with Minimalism and post-minimal geometric abstraction. His abstract artworks are defined by clarity of form, measured proportions, and a sustained investigation of shape, line, and color.

Mangold’s practice centers on geometric structures, including circles, ellipses, rectangles, and irregular polygons, often outlined by graphite drawing directly on the painted surface. Rather than treating color as expressive gesture, he employs muted, carefully calibrated tones to explore spatial relationships and perceptual balance. In series such as his “X” paintings, Mangold integrates geometry and chromatic variation into compositions that are both austere and visually resonant.

Beyond painting, Robert Mangold has produced an important body of limited edition prints and works on paper, extending his formal investigations into lithography, etching, and other printmaking techniques. His fine art prints maintain the same precision and structural clarity that define his paintings, emphasizing proportion, contour, and the tension between surface and line. Held in major museum collections worldwide, Mangold’s artworks continue to play a central role in the history and development of contemporary geometric abstraction.