Linee Verticali 1972

Giorgio Griffa made Linee Verticali with acrylic on raw canvas, using materials and processes far removed from the traditional oil painting on stretched canvas. Look at how the paint bleeds slightly into the unprimed fabric, creating soft edges. The visible weave adds a tactile quality, and the loose, unstretched canvas rejects any sense of illusionistic depth. Griffa's method embraces simplicity and directness. He applied paint in thin, even strokes, allowing the inherent qualities of the materials to dictate the final appearance. The repetition of vertical lines echoes textile production and the grid of minimalist art. This work invites us to reconsider our definitions of art. It challenges the hierarchy between fine art and craft, and invites us to appreciate the beauty of simple materials, and the skills of making, and its social implications.