241 - HENRY MOORE (United Kingdom, 1898–1986).

HENRY MOORE (United Kingdom, 1898–1986). “Openin form I,” 1979. Lithograph on paper. Copy 46/50. Printed by Curwem Studio and published by Raymond Spencer. Includes a separate Doyle New York label. Signed and inscribed in pencil. Measurements: 50 x 59.5 cm. In *Opening Form I*, the artist explores an abstract, biomorphic language in which forms seem to emerge from processes of growth, transformation, and opening, establishing an evocative dialogue between volume and space.His visual vocabulary draws inspiration from natural elements such as bones, shells, stones, and eroded fragments—objects that Moore regularly collected and studied in his studio. These references allowed him to develop a personal sculptural language, distinct from conventional anatomical representation and based on the synthesis of nature’s essential structures. The relationship between interior and exterior spaces, voids, and solid masses constitutes one of the fundamental principles of his work. Graphic art played a fundamental role in Moore’s career; he found in etching and lithography autonomous media through which to explore the expressive possibilities of line, texture, and space. Far from being mere translations of his sculptures, these prints allowed him to develop new variations on his recurring motifs and expand his formal vocabulary. Henry Moore was one of the most influential British sculptors of the 20th century and a key figure in modern sculpture. He trained at the Leeds School of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in London, where he also served as a professor. He achieved international recognition for his monumental sculptures of reclining figures and his explorations of organic forms and space. Among his numerous awards are the International Sculpture Prize at the 1948 Venice Biennale and the 1968 Erasmus Prize. His work is included in the collections of institutions such as the Tate in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.