Arthur Luiz Piza, Glints of Blue, 1984

Engraving, 1984 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 45/99 Certificate of authenticity Publisher : Œuvre gravée, Suisse Catalog : Masrour 17 76.00 cm. x 56.00 cm. 29.92 in. x 22.05 in. (paper) 58.00 cm. x 39.00 cm. 22.83 in. x 15.35 in. (image) Arthur-Luiz Piza (1928-2017) was born in Brazil where he trained as a fresco artist. Like many young artists of his generation, he was attracted to Paris, where he settled in 1951 in the cosmopolitan and inexpensive Montparnasse district. He continued his training in engraving, which he had begun in Brazil, in the excellent Ermitage workshop, with Johny Friedlaender. In the 1960s, Piza developed a highly original technique: he carved geometric shapes directly onto the copper plate. These parts are then inked and the final result, on the sheet, is in relief. The large plate we offer is the result of this technique: a multitude of small triangles in relief dot the composition. In different colours and with a sometimes shiny texture, they bring a breath of fresh air to the engraving of the 1960s, which was then in full revival. Piza uses the burin, one of the oldest tools in engraving, and one of the most perilous to use. His composition develops on a background dotted with tiny filaments. The triangles create a kind of current, of energy that flows horizontally. The whole thing is very delicate. Piza, also a sculptor and collage artist, was one of the most inventive printmakers of his generation, introducing these relief effects into his work and using a deeply personal colour palette. LCD6116