Antoni Tàpies’ Cannage, a lithograph from 1984, presents a hauntingly abstract composition that merges texture with ephemeral forms. The piece is dominated by a soft, smoky haze that envelops the surface, with minimalistic, almost calligraphic lines sketched across it. On the left, a faint grid pattern emerges, resembling woven cane or mesh, evoking the title “Cannage.” This pattern contrasts sharply with the organic shapes on the right, creating a sense of duality between structure and fluidity. The restrained color palette emphasizes Tàpies' interest in texture and materiality, reflecting his exploration of the physical and the transient. Hand-signed and numbered, this print encapsulates Tàpies' fascination with the tactile and the ambiguous.
Antoni Tàpies (Spain, 1923–2012) was a Catalan painter, sculptor, and art theorist renowned for his abstract works that incorporated unconventional materials like sand, marble dust, and found objects. A leading figure in Art Informel, his textured surfaces and symbolic motifs explored themes of materiality and spirituality. Tàpies co-founded the avant-garde group Dau al Set and received numerous accolades, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale.
Lithograph Lithography is a printing method based on the principle that water and oil do not mix. It can be used to print artwork or text onto paper or other suitable materials. Traditionally, an image was drawn with wax, fat, or oil onto a lithographic limestone surface or plate. Today, metal plates and other surfaces are also used in lithographic printing.
Antoni Tàpies’ Cannage, a lithograph from 1984, presents a hauntingly abstract composition that merges texture with ephemeral forms. The piece is dominated by a soft, smoky haze that envelops the surface, with minimalistic, almost calligraphic lines sketched across it. On the left, a faint grid pattern emerges, resembling woven cane or mesh, evoking the title “Cannage.” This pattern contrasts sharply with the organic shapes on the right, creating a sense of duality between structure and fluidity. The restrained color palette emphasizes Tàpies' interest in texture and materiality, reflecting his exploration of the physical and the transient. Hand-signed and numbered, this print encapsulates Tàpies' fascination with the tactile and the ambiguous.
Antoni Tàpies (Spain, 1923–2012) was a Catalan painter, sculptor, and art theorist renowned for his abstract works that incorporated unconventional materials like sand, marble dust, and found objects. A leading figure in Art Informel, his textured surfaces and symbolic motifs explored themes of materiality and spirituality. Tàpies co-founded the avant-garde group Dau al Set and received numerous accolades, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale.
Art should startle the viewer into thinking about the meaning of life.
- Antoni Tapies
Antoni Tapies was a Spanish art theorist, sculptor and painter. Tapies also has the distinction of being one of the most popular European artists of his time. He was born in Barcelona and studied at the German School of Barcelona. He studied to be a lawyer for three years, but in 1943, he decided that he wanted to devote his career to painting. Antoni Tapies has been linked to a number of important art movements, including Matter Painting and Art Informel. Some of his early works had a surreal feel to them, but in 1953, he decided to switch his focus to abstract art. Tapies' work has been featured in a number of respected locations throughout the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in Paris and Pace Wildenstein in New York. There is also a museum dedicated to this talented artist called the Antoni Tapies Foundation. The location is also a cultural center, and is located in Tapies' home town of Barcelona. (Artist website)
Automatism refers to a technique in the creative process that accesses material from the unconscious or subconscious mind. It is based on Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic method of free association. Artists value this process for its ability to inspire creative thought and spontaneous creation.