Lot 849

Rodolfo Morales 'Trilogia' Color Lithograph, Edition 16/40

Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 849
image_0 image_1 image_2
Rodolfo Morales 'Trilogia' Color Lithograph, Edition 16/40
Rodolfo Morales 'Trilogia' Color Lithograph, Edition 16/40
image_0 image_1 image_2

Rodolfo Morales 'Trilogia' Color Lithograph, Edition 16/40

Estimate: $1,100 - $1,650

Starting Bid: $450

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
July 30, 2026 8:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Rodolfo Morales (Mexican, 1925-2001). Trilogia. Color lithograph, n.d. Edition 16 of 40. Hand-signed and numbered beneath impression. Three adjoining panels depict figures and architecture in deep violets, earthen reds, and muted greens. The composition reads as a structured sequence of three scenes unified by geometry, repetition, and women as the central figures. At left, a monumental female figure stands frontal, her oversized face calm and introspective; a geometric starburst overlays her torso, while additional profiles flank her head. Morales frequently placed women at the center of his work, presenting them as the foundation of village life. Size of impression: 25.5" W x 12" H (64.8 cm x 30.5 cm); of frame: 33.25" W x 19.5" H (84.5 cm x 49.5 cm)

Here, the figure is at once individual and emblematic, her stillness counterbalanced by the intricate pattern that animates her form.

The central panel moves inward to an enclosed courtyard framed by rhythmic arcades reminiscent of Oaxacan architecture. Three women stand together beneath a row of rounded columns, each bearing a bold geometric motif across her chest. Below them, a small plaza recedes toward orderly trees and low buildings, echoing the townscapes of Ocotlan de Morelos that remained central to Morales' imagination. His lifelong dedication to restoring historic structures in Oaxaca finds a visual counterpart here - architecture is not background but active participant, shaping communal life and anchoring human presence.

At right, another monumental female head dominates the panel, crowned with a patterned square that mirrors the starburst seen at left. Above her, elongated arms rise vertically, stylized and slightly exaggerated, reinforcing Morales' tendency to enlarge hands and faces to heighten emotional impact. The repetition of geometric forms across the triptych creates a subtle kaleidoscopic rhythm, recalling the constructed, shifting compositions he explored in other media.

Throughout the lithograph, Morales blends folklore, symbolism, and a restrained strain of magic realism. Figures hover in a timeless atmosphere, grounded in rural Mexico yet suspended beyond specific narrative. Influences from artists such as Maria Izquierdo and Marc Chagall can be sensed in the flattened space and saturated color, yet the mood remains distinctly his own - contemplative, communal, and centered on the enduring presence of women within village life.

Oaxaca master Rodolfo Morales attended the Academia de San Carlos in Mexico City and taught art at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria in Mexico City. He was relatively unknown until Rufino Tamayo discovered his work in 1975 at his first solo exhibition in Cuernavaca. Ever since, Morales' art has been widely exhibited. Highlights include: "Aspects of Contemporary Mexican Painting" at the Americas Society, New York (1990); "Mito y Magia in America" at Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in Monterrey, Mexico (1991); Hechizo de Oaxaca in the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City (1992); "Myth and Magic: Oaxaca Past and Present" at the Palo Alto (California) Cultural Center (1994); and "Rodolfo Morales: Juegos y Evocaciones" (1996), a retrospective of Morales' work opened at the Mexican Museum in San Francisco and toured the United States and Canada. In addition, Morales has had major mural commissions in Oaxaca and Mexico City.

Provenance: ex-private Moore collection, Denver, Colorado, USA, acquired prior to 1990

SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).

PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.

Item # 201165

  • Condition: Mounted behind glass in custom matte and frame; has not been examined outside of glass. A few nicks to frame that do not affect engraving, but otherwise in good condition with old gallery label and suspension wire on verso for display. Some light wrinkling to paper, but otherwise print appears to be in excellent overall condition. Hand-signed and numbered beneath impression.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Bidder Can Make Shipping Arrangements, Local Pick-Up, In-House Shipping

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$1 - $249,999:
35.00%
$250,000+:
35.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000