Spiral and Free Curve

Herbert Bayer

Bauhaus artist Herbert Bayer did this 10 color lithograph at Editions Press in San Francisco in 1979, the year Bayer had his heart attack and had moved from Colorado to Santa Barbara, California. This image was created in San Francisco. The tan paper for the editon of 60 was specially handmade for him by then Editions Press printer Don Farnsworth and was printed by Master Printer Richard Newlin, who worked with the artist in Santa Barbara.

There are an additional 21 impressions: 1 BAT, 4 Printers Proofs, 10 Artist's Proofs, 1 Editions Press Artist's Proof and 5 Editions Press Impressions.

"Spiral and Free Curve" is based on a series of paintings Bayer was working on in the late 1970s called "Chromatics" which were delineating segments of a curve. Arthur A. Cohen remarks on page 134 of his book "Herbert Bayer":

"Chromatic analysis of circles as was employed in a whole group of works in the 'Chromatics....The serpentine form, a sign of eternity, which occurred in Kandinsky' paintings as well as Klee's assumes cosmic significance...In 'Spiral and Free Curve 1976/86'....the serpentine is always identified as a geometric form, which tends to neutralize its mythic implications."