Antoni Tàpies

ANTONI TÀPIES (Barcelona, 1923 - 2012).
"Peu roig", 1983.
Etching and carborundum with collage. Exemplary E.A. III/XVIII.
Signed and numbered by hand.
Work catalogued in Tàpies Graphic Work 1979-1986, 2002, Galfetti, ref. 903.
Measurements: 39.5 × 56 cm (print); 57 × 76 cm (sheet); 79 × 99 cm (frame).

In "Peu Roig", Antoni Tàpies turns the footprint into a sign of presence, transit and memory. The red shape that dominates the center of the composition does not act as an anatomical representation, but as a symbolic footprint: a trace of the body on matter, a sign of contact with the earth and an emblem of an existence that leaves a mark. This motif, recurrent in his imaginary, links with the more physical and spiritual dimension of his work, where bodily signs acquire an almost ritual force.

The image is built on a large dark field of irregular edges, worked by etching, aquatint and carborundum, techniques that allow a dense surface of deep blacks and rich texture. On this background emerge stains, graphemes and calligraphic-like strokes, which intensify the tension between matter, gesture and symbol. The central red introduces a nucleus of visual energy, while the black and white signs extend the reading of the work into archaic and ceremonial territory.

Antoni Tàpies is one of the leading figures of European art in the second half of the 20th century and the leading exponent of informalism in Spain. Co-founder of the Dau al Set group, he developed his own language based on material-gestural experimentation, integrating signs, graphics and symbolic elements with a strong spiritual and existential charge. His work is present in institutions such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Madrid), the MACBA (Barcelona) or the Fondation Maeght (Saint-Paul-de-Vence), among many others. Awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale and the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, his graphic production constitutes a fundamental chapter in his career and maintains a solid demand in the international market.