Mino Maccari, The Cossacks, Watercolor, 1950s

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Watercolor on paper realized in the mid-20th Century. Hand signed lower right. A striking and imaginative work on paper by … Read more Watercolor on paper realized in the mid-20th Century. Hand signed lower right. A striking and imaginative work on paper by Mino Maccari, distinguished for his modern graphic language and his ability to merge satire, poetry, and expressive distortion in a single image. Executed in fluid black ink wash with vibrant passages of green watercolor, the composition presents a commanding central figure—arms outstretched and face rendered with boldly simplified features—set against a sequence of small airborne silhouettes performing energetic leaps and contortions. The contrast between the monumental foreground presence and the rhythmic procession of dancing or acrobatic bodies above creates a dynamic visual tension, suggestive of theatre, spectacle, or a dreamlike allegory. Maccari’s economy of means—rapid brushwork, translucent washes, and a deliberately naïve graphic shorthand—imbues the scene with both immediacy and psychological resonance, recalling the artist’s celebrated caricatural vision and avant-garde sensibility. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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