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Please note that all works are offered unframed. For the purpose of the exhibition, selected works have been framed by the publisher and these frames can be purchased together with the works. For prices, please contact the department. MAGICIANS OF PRINTMAKING... The Stamperia d’Arte 2RC was founded in 1959 as a joint venture between Valter and Eleonora Rossi and Eleonora’s cousin Francesco Cioppi. Whilst it is easy to consider the success of Stamperia d’Arte 2RC as being a result of the large scale and capability of the printing presses, the reality is a different story. The jovial, amicable and loving means by which both Valter and Eleonora welcomed and entertained in their home and studios offered already established artists a brief pause from the increasingly celebrity-driven art world. These oases of calm were not restricted to Rome, but could be constructed in quickly adapted guesthouses, barns and former factory spaces. Flexibility alone would not be enough and so the key component in creating such a creative atmosphere was in fact the presence of either Valter or Eleonora. Responding to the new markets and changing landscape of Post-War Europe, the family took the bold decision to open a studio in New York. A love of teaching, practicality and above all the creation of beautiful things led to lifelong friendships with many of the artists whose work is offered within this sale. The monumentality of the many of the prints is unsurprisingly the most instantly recognisable trait of Stamperia d’Arte 2RC artworks. However, under closer inspection the true brilliance of this family of printmakers can be discovered. A mastery of medium, whether etching, aquatint or even embossed reliefs reveal the artists’ need for collaboration, if only to fully realise the artistic vision in what was for many artist’s a new foray into graphic works. Overcoming technical challenges and with the inventiveness of modern day alchemists, the Rossis elevated the status of printmaking; enabling it to join the ranks of contemporary media through their ability to blur the accepted divisions between two-dimensional and three-dimensional surfaces. The works published by Stamperia d’Arte 2RC demonstrate an absolute understanding of paper, press and colouring, on many occasions pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved by printmaking. This is particularly evident in the numerous collaborations with artists traditionally regarded as sculptors. The evolution of the company can be traced from the origins of Stamperia d’Arte to 2RC Editrice in Rome to 2RC Edizioni d’Arte with global studios. As has always been the case, the business continues to respond to the new artistic visions and emerging talents, with the development of new printmaking studios in China and the inauguration of a new International Centre of Printmaking, in Viareggio. This collection is comprised of Bon à tirer impressions, which were created in close collaboration between the artist and the printer. They provided the templates for the subsequent printing of the editions. The international backgrounds and diverse working practices of the artists are apparent in the variations of the phrase Bon à tirer (‘good to pull’), ranging from a simple OK or buono di stampa to an emphatic ¡Aurrera!. These inscriptions offer an invaluable insight into the workings of the Stamperia d’Arte and indeed the relationship between the artists and the Rossis. Alberto Burri (1915-1995) Born in Città di Castello, Umbria, in 1915, Burri’s relationship with the Rossi family perhaps runs deepest of all the artists involved with Stamperia d’Arte 2RC. Burri’s work often uses collage and materials passing through various states of being, particularly following the introduction of heat and fire. This is present in the series Combustione 1-6, in which the random process of burning, of turning into ashes, create evocative images of transformation. The four works from the series Cretti defy the convention of paper being read solely in the two dimensional plane, with aquatint used to heighten the ridges and deepen the contrast with the cracked surface. This series is part of the artist’s on-going response to the Sicilian earthquake of 1968, which resulted in the abandonment of the small town of Gibellina. A comprehensive selection of Burri’s printed artworks is on offer relating to each of the artist’s major stylistic periods.

Alberto Burri (1915-1995)

Combustione 1-6

Details

Alberto Burri (1915-1995)
Combustione 1-6
the complete set of six etchings and aquatints
1971
Fabriano Rosaspina paper
each signed in pencil, inscribed buona di stampa
edition size: 90 numbered impressions and 15 artist's proofs
published and printed by 2RC Edizioni d’Arte, Rome, with their blindstamp

Sheet: 640 x 485 mm. (and similar)
(6)

Special notice

All sold and unsold lots marked with a filled square in the catalogue that are not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the day of the sale, and all sold and unsold lots not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the fifth Friday following the sale, will be removed to the warehouse of ‘Cadogan Tate’. Please note that there will be no charge to purchasers who collect their lots within two weeks of this sale.

Further details

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