Arnoldus Gruter Seated Red Venus, 1972 – Signed Print, 26/50

Visually striking screenprint by Dutch-American artist Arnoldus “Arnold” Gruter, titled Seated Red Venus. Dated 1972, the composition features Gruter’s signature red female torso seated in an ornate black and yellow chair, rendered in crisp, bold lines with high-contrast pop sensibility. A signature element—black textured high-heeled boots—anchors the form in a pose both commanding and sensuous.

The print is signed and dated in pencil lower right and numbered 26/50 from a limited edition. Presented matted and framed under glass, the work stands out as an excellent example of Gruter’s figural graphic style and his recurring visual motifs.

About the Artist:
Arnoldus Gruter was artist-in-residence at Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University, Mankato), where he created sculpture and prints exploring the interplay of abstract form and symbolic identity. His monumental steel sculpture Waves remains on display at the university. Gruter’s 2D works, like Seated Red Venus, often share direct visual themes with his sculptural practice.

Provenance:
From the collection of the Lashway family, personal friends of the artist. Acquired during Gruter’s time at Mankato State College.

Medium:
Screenprint on paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Edition: 26/50
Framed and matted under glass

Dimensions:
Framed: 34" H x 24" W
Visible image: 29" H x 19 1/2" W
(Framed under glass)

About the Artist:

Arnoldus “Arnold” Gruter (20th Century, Dutch-American)
Artist Biography & Reference Sheet

Arnoldus Gruter was a Dutch-born sculptor and printmaker who became an influential artistic figure in the American Midwest during the mid-to-late 20th century. Best known for his bold sculptural forms and stylized representations of the human figure, Gruter's work bridges symbolism, abstraction, and modernist aesthetics.

Gruter served as the artist-in-residence at Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University, Mankato), where he maintained a studio in the student union building and was actively involved in the campus art scene. His tenure there resulted in numerous personal connections and commissions, including the university’s most recognizable public artwork—Waves—a monumental red steel sculpture fabricated at Jones Metal Products and dedicated in memory of graduate student Jerry W. Berger.

Waves is a kinetic visual metaphor that reflects Gruter’s signature approach: exploring the interplay of movement and stillness, organic and geometric. “The sea is always there, there is no beginning and no end... so it’s the same thing as a university,” Gruter is quoted as saying about the piece.

Alongside his large-scale outdoor works, Gruter created smaller sculptural studies and limited-edition prints, many of which explore related themes through figurative abstraction. Series such as Venus in Reds and Seated Red Venus exemplify his interest in femininity, theatrical composition, and bold color. These works often feature sensuous, stylized torsos, frequently adorned with black boots or elaborate decorative elements.

A number of these pieces were retained by or gifted to Roy Lashway, then-director of the Mankato student union, and remained in the private collection of the Lashway family, close friends of the artist. This provenance is well documented and provides a direct connection to Gruter’s creative environment and professional circle during his most productive period.

Gruter’s legacy lives on through his public works, private collections, and the continued interest in his unique synthesis of modernist design and symbolic figuration.