Frank Stella Moby Dick, from The Waves Series, 1989 named after a chapter from the Herman Melville classic Moby Dick is one from a series of pieces that explores the novel. The multimedia work bursts with color, texture, and depth – creating a stunning and complex piece of art. Two corners of the piece are taken over by beautiful marbled paper. The bottom left is a churning mixture of blues and greens, mimicking the dusky waters of the ocean. The upper right corner contains a lighter marbling, with yellows, reds, and oranges and stands in for the sun. In the center of the composition, a grey, white, and black form stands out – it curves around naturally, like an organic shape, and reminds the viewer of the white whale titular to the piece.

Created in 1989, this silkscreen, lithography, and linoleum block with hand-coloring, marbling, and collage on T.H. Saunders and Somerset papers is hand signed and dated ‘F. Stella’89’ by Frank Stella (Massachusetts, 1936 - ) in pencil in the lower right; numbered from the edition of 60 in pencil in the lower right; aside from the editions of 10 artist’s proofs and 4 printer’s proofs; published by Waddington Graphics, London.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Frank Stella Moby Dick, from The Waves, Series, 1989 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Axsom, Richard H. The Prints of Frank Stella: A Catalogue Raisonné. New York: Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, 2016. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 194

2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards Frank Stella Moby Dick from The Waves, 1989 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.