Geometrie - Atanasio Soldati

A striking example of Italian Concrete Art by Atanasio Soldati, featuring a balanced arrangement of geometric forms in a bold, primary-focused palette.

Atanasio Soldati was a primary figure in the development of Italian abstract art during the mid-twentieth century. His work, such as this piece titled Geometrie, reflects his engagement with the principles of Concrete Art, a movement that prioritised the autonomy of form and colour over representational subject matter. Soldati moved away from the figurative traditions prevalent in Italy at the time, choosing instead to explore the structural possibilities of geometric shapes.

In this composition, Soldati employs a restricted palette of red, yellow, deep blue, and pale grey. The arrangement of these shapes creates a sense of tension and balance. The forms are not merely decorative, they function as independent entities that interact within the two-dimensional space of the canvas. The sharp, angular lines of the yellow and blue elements contrast with the broader, more stable grey base, while the intense red background pushes these shapes forward, creating a dynamic visual field.

Soldati was a founding member of the MAC (Movimento Arte Concreta) in Milan, an organisation that sought to promote non-figurative art as a universal language. His approach to painting was methodical, focusing on the precise placement of colour and the relationship between positive and negative space. By stripping away narrative elements, Soldati invites the viewer to engage directly with the physical properties of the work. The clarity of his forms and the deliberate choice of colour demonstrate his pursuit of a rational, yet expressive, visual order. This print captures the precise application of paint and the stark, clean edges that define Soldati's mature style, offering a clear view of his contribution to the European abstract tradition.