Ellsworth Kelly Black Variation 3 Lithograph Limited Edition of 25, 1977

Ellsworth Kelly  

Artist: Ellsworth Kelly Title: Black Variation 3 Medium: Lithograph with Intaglio on Rives Paper Year: 1975 Image Size: 29" x 29" Sheet Size: 39.75" x 39" Edition: A.P. IX (aside from the edition of 25) Publisher: Printed and Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles Inscription: Signed and Numbered to Lower Right "AP IX Kelly" with publisher's blind stamps Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity In "Black Variation 3", Ellsworth Kelly distills visual experience to its most essential elements—form, contrast, and balance. A commanding black square with subtly rounded corners is centered within a pristine white field, creating a bold juxtaposition that captures the artist's enduring exploration of spatial tension and purity of shape. Completed in 1975, the work exemplifies Kelly's ability to create visual harmony through geometric precision and restrained elegance. The soft curves of the black form temper the stark contrast of black on white, producing a rhythm that is both assertive and contemplative. This balance between opposition and unity is a hallmark of Kelly's minimalist vision, where each shape is not a symbol but a presence—quiet, deliberate, and complete. "Black Variation 3" is signed and numbered IX A.P. in pencil by Kelly, printed in addition to the standard print edition of 25. It bears the blind stamps of the celebrated print studio Gemini G.E.L., underscoring the high standards of craftsmanship behind the piece. A gallery certificate of authenticity is included. Stripped of narrative or illusion, "Black Variation 3" stands as a powerful example of Ellsworth Kelly's formal clarity and his lifelong commitment to the expressive potential of abstraction. The piece is currently not framed; the pictures showing it with a frame are mockups to give you an idea of what it will look like when framed.