(Venice 1907–1990)
Spazio Aperto n. 1, 1963, signed and dated Santomaso ‘63; signed and dated again Santomaso ‘63 on the reverse, oil on canvas, 117 x 117 cm, framed

This work will be included in the “Catalogue raisonné” of the artist currently being prepared by the Archivio Giuseppe Santomaso and Umberto Allemandi Editore.

Provenance:
Galerie im Erker, St. Gallen (label on the reverse)
A. Pulin Collection, Milan
Galleria Contini & Vecchiato, Forte dei Marmi,
Lucca (certificate available)
European Private Collection

Exhibited:
St. Gallen, Santomaso, Galerie im Erker, February-March 1964, no. 20
Lucerne, Santomaso, Räber Gallery, November 1964-January 1965, no. 20 New York, Santomaso, Grace Borgenicht Gallery, 1965, no. 3 (titled Spazio Aperto) (torn label on the reverse)
Hamburg, Giuseppe Santomaso. Gemälde und Gouachen 1947–1965, Haus am Lützowplatz, 1965
Berlin, Giuseppe Santomaso. Gemälde und Gouachen 1947–1965, Haus am Lützowplatz, 1966
Dortmund, Giuseppe Santomaso. Gemälde und Gouachen 1947–1965, Museum am Ostwall, 1966, no. 49 (titled Spazio Aperto)
Munich, Santomaso. Ölbilder 1956–1965, Gouachen, Galerie Günther Francke, 1966, no. 21
Milan, Santomaso. Opere 1939–1986, Palazzo Reale, 1986, no. 31, p. 44 with ill.
Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Santomaso. Werke 1939–1986, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, 1986, no.31, p. 56 with ill.
Codogno, Presenze dell’informale in Italia, 1994–1995, p. 50 with ill.

Literature:
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 4 February 1966, with ill. Santomaso Catalogue raisonné 1931–1974, Alfieri (ed.), Venice, 1975, no. 421 with ill.

Although Santomaso never ceases to place his research in relation to the world of “things”, his art defines itself as a growing exploration of the essential relationships between the “soul” of form and the “soul” of colour. Form coincides with the expansion of colour on the surface, colour stops and a mark refuses to move in order to make space for another form. This is a succession that results from surface juxtaposition and does not have an illusionist or representative purpose. Its aim is the possibility of a whole made up of stasis and movement, of emergence and disappearance.
Nico Stringa, L’esperienza astratta, in catalogue of the exhibition Giuseppe Santomaso e l’opzione astratta, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice 2008