Letter to the Mother

1993

Elena del Rivero

Associated Names
Elena del Rivero

Artist, Spanish, born 1949

The image displays closely packed, horizontal linear shapes in black and white, forming a grid-like pattern. The straight lines create the appearance of text rows, similar to closely written pages in a typewritten letter. The words "Letter to the Mother" are faintly visible at the top of the leftmost section. The composition resembles open books or monochrome manuscripts arranged in a triptych.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and black ink, graphite, and typewritten text on three sheets of wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Werner H. and Sarah-Ann Kramarsky

  • Dimensions

    sheet (each ): 23.02 × 16.99 cm (9 1/16 × 6 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2001.143.4.a-c

Associated Artworks

The image shows a series of parallel black lines arranged horizontally across the page, creating a texture reminiscent of text. The lines resemble a densely typed manuscript or letter, without discernible words. The composition suggests a typewritten document under the title "Letter to the Mother" centered at the top. The pattern of lines varies in density, with some areas appearing darker and more intense, resembling bold typing, while others are lighter and more faint, akin to variations in ink coverage on aged paper.

Letter to the Mother [left]

Elena del Rivero

1993

The image shows a pattern of dense vertical lines arranged in horizontal rows, creating a grid-like structure. The lines vary in thickness and spacing, giving the image a textured appearance.

Letter to the Mother [center]

Elena del Rivero

1993

The image features intricate patterns of dense, repetitive vertical and horizontal lines creating a rectangular grid-like design. The arrangement resembles woven textile with evenly distributed marks. The lines create segmented areas resembling stacked bricks or closely placed books. Two distinct sections are divided by a horizontal band.

Letter to the Mother [right]

Elena del Rivero

1993

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The Emergency Art Fund; Werner H. and Sarah-Ann Kramarsky, New York; gift to NGA, 2001.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2006

  • "Elena del Rivero. A mano: Trabajos sobre papel", Institut Valencià d'Art Modern, Valencia; Museo Patio Herreriano, Museo de arte Contemporáneo Español,, 2006-2007.

Inscriptions

upper center of left sheet, typed in black ink: Letter to the Mother; lower right of right sheet in pen and black ink: New York Oct. 1993

Wikidata ID

Q64558287

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