Untitled (Geometric Composition) - Lolo Soldevilla

A mid-century geometric abstraction by Cuban artist Lolo Soldevilla, featuring a balanced arrangement of circles and rectangles on a terracotta ground.

This work by Lolo Soldevilla presents a study in geometric balance and spatial arrangement. Soldevilla, a central figure in the Cuban concrete art movement, spent significant time in Paris during the 1950s, where she engaged with the Groupe Espace. This period of her career is defined by a shift toward non-representational forms, where the canvas functions as a field for precise mathematical and visual relationships.

The composition is anchored by a warm, terracotta-toned ground. Across this surface, Soldevilla distributes a series of circles and rectangles of varying sizes and colours. These elements do not follow a traditional perspective. Instead, they occupy the space in a manner that suggests a rhythmic, almost musical, progression. The placement of the blue rectangle in the lower left corner provides a visual weight that counters the lighter, smaller circles scattered toward the upper right.

Soldevilla often utilised a limited palette to focus the viewer on the interaction between shape and void. Here, the muted earth tone of the background allows the cooler blues and neutral whites to emerge with clarity. The work avoids decorative excess, favouring a disciplined approach to form. By stripping away narrative content, the artist invites an examination of how simple geometric units create a sense of order. This piece reflects the broader international interest in concrete art during the mid-twentieth century, where artists sought a universal visual language that transcended cultural boundaries. The surface texture of the board remains visible, adding a tactile quality to the otherwise precise arrangement of shapes. It is an example of the rigorous intellectual framework that Soldevilla applied to her practice, balancing intuition with the structural demands of geometric abstraction.