Untitled (Abstract Composition, 1938) - Bice Lazzari

A rhythmic abstract composition from 1938 by Italian artist Bice Lazzari, featuring vertical marks set against a textured, earthy background.

Bice Lazzari was a significant figure in the development of Italian abstraction. Her career began in the decorative arts, where she worked with textiles and interior design, before she transitioned fully into painting. This 1938 work demonstrates her early exploration of rhythmic, non-representational forms. The composition is built upon a textured, atmospheric ground of warm, earthy tones, ranging from deep ochre to burnt sienna. Across this surface, Lazzari has placed a series of vertical, pill-shaped marks in contrasting shades of cream, brown, and black. The arrangement of these marks suggests a musical or rhythmic structure, reflecting the artist's interest in the relationship between visual art and sound. Rather than creating a sense of deep space, the painting maintains a flat, surface-oriented quality. The repetition of these small, gestural forms creates a sense of order within the painterly, textured background. Lazzari's approach to abstraction is methodical, focusing on the balance of colour and the placement of marks to generate a visual cadence. This piece captures a moment in her transition from applied design to the pure, geometric, and rhythmic abstraction that would define her later career. The work is signed and dated in the lower right corner, confirming its place within her formative period of experimentation in the late 1930s.