Mino Maccari, Sketches, Semi Nude, 1940s, Watercolor

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Watercolor on paper. A refined and evocative drawing by Mino Maccari, executed in watercolour with brush, combining delicate blue and … Read more Watercolor on paper. A refined and evocative drawing by Mino Maccari, executed in watercolour with brush, combining delicate blue and warm red washes to articulate a loosely connected group of figures dispersed across the sheet. At right, a standing female figure dominates the composition, rendered in flowing red tones that emphasise her upright posture and statuesque presence. Behind her, a small winged putto appears in flight, introducing a playful yet symbolic element that contrasts with the woman’s calm, frontal stance. To the left, two smaller vignettes—one depicting a reclining figure in pale blue, the other a bust-length female head—function as autonomous studies while contributing to the overall rhythm of the composition. Maccari’s use of colour is economical and expressive: translucent washes define volume and gesture, while the line remains light and suggestive, allowing figures to emerge and recede against the largely untouched ground. The sheet exemplifies a lyrical and imaginative aspect of Maccari’s graphic practice, in which caricature, myth, and observation coexist. The juxtaposition of everyday figure studies with the allegorical presence of the putto reflects the artist’s ability to shift fluidly between satire and poetic invention. The drawing’s open structure and sketch-like immediacy underscore its exploratory nature, revealing drawing as a space of free association and visual thought. Signed Maccari lower right. 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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