In the decade preceding Manfred Schwartz’ death, he created an impressive body of work. It was Henri Matisse who suggested to Manfred Schwartz that he go to Étretat for the light. There, Manfred was inspired to create images of the land and the sea. He noticed everything, the small uneven differences and colors in the pebbles, the way the sunlight travelled across the beach and created new shadows throughout the day.

Near the end of Manfred’s life, he turned his gaze upward toward the heavens. His last series of lithographs are images of the cosmos. He titled the series Celestial. He created Celestial in two color variations, the first in soft neutral tones of black, gray and white, as if a gossamer veil obscured the planets, and the second alive with blue, purple and teal colors.

He titled his last image Somber Planet; the image is powerful, a looming dark planet Earth floats above smaller constellations in dusky brown atmosphere.

Major museums including the Guggenheim and the Whitney have exhibited the art of Manfred Schwartz.


About Hand-Pulled Stone Lithographs
A hand-pulled lithograph is made by drawing on a flat surface with wax-based crayons or greasy ink. The design is set with a solution of acid and gum arabic. The flat surface is then wetted with water and rolled with ink, which adheres only to the drawing. A paper is then pressed to the flat surface and carefully removed by hand. A separate drawing, wetting, inking and pressing is necessary for each color.