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Lot Essay
Explosions lyriques No.XV is an exceptional example from Magnelli's series of around twenty paintings created in 1918 which powerfully evoke what Magnelli called 'An explosion of joy at the end of World War One' (Magnelli, quoted in Daniel Abadie, Alberto Magnelli, New York, 1985, p.5). At the same time, the extreme dynamism of design and explosions of colour found in these vibrant pictures are an inevitable conclusion to the extraordinary formal discoveries Magnelli made during the war years.
The Explosions lyriques mark the culmination of four years of experimentation during which Magnelli dramatically explored relationships between pure colour and form. Between 1914 and 1918 Magnelli had developed a formal shorthand in which he divided and structured the picture surface into areas of colour separated by strong black lines. Trapped on a visit from Paris to his native Florence by the outbreak of war in 1914, Magnelli worked ceaselessly for a year during which he produced the very first abstract paintings created by an Italian artist.
Explosions lyriques No.XV is the result of these extensive experiments. Bringing together, quite openly and consciously, the direct influence of Fauvism, Cubism and Futurism the painting reflects Magnelli's openness to the pioneering ideas around him. Explosions lyriques No.XV is distinguished among the series by the addition of some very bold delineating brushstrokes. Other works from the series such as Explosions lyriques No. VIII, in the Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris rely solely upon differences of colour and shape to enable us to determine the end of one surface and the beginning of another. Here, however, the strong lines provide curves and angles that suggest dynamic movement whilst also outlining the figure in the composition. Importantly, the lines are of many different colours and each individually informs and harmonises the relationships between the main neighbouring areas of colour.
The Explosions lyriques mark the culmination of four years of experimentation during which Magnelli dramatically explored relationships between pure colour and form. Between 1914 and 1918 Magnelli had developed a formal shorthand in which he divided and structured the picture surface into areas of colour separated by strong black lines. Trapped on a visit from Paris to his native Florence by the outbreak of war in 1914, Magnelli worked ceaselessly for a year during which he produced the very first abstract paintings created by an Italian artist.
Explosions lyriques No.XV is the result of these extensive experiments. Bringing together, quite openly and consciously, the direct influence of Fauvism, Cubism and Futurism the painting reflects Magnelli's openness to the pioneering ideas around him. Explosions lyriques No.XV is distinguished among the series by the addition of some very bold delineating brushstrokes. Other works from the series such as Explosions lyriques No. VIII, in the Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris rely solely upon differences of colour and shape to enable us to determine the end of one surface and the beginning of another. Here, however, the strong lines provide curves and angles that suggest dynamic movement whilst also outlining the figure in the composition. Importantly, the lines are of many different colours and each individually informs and harmonises the relationships between the main neighbouring areas of colour.