Abbraccio 1983

Francesco Clemente created Abbraccio using pastel, and what I see here is all about the process of smearing and blending. The hazy atmosphere he conjures almost melts these two figures into one. What strikes me is the physicality of the medium. You can almost feel the powdery texture of the pastel on the paper, with the colours softly blending and smudging at the edges. Notice the way Clemente uses strokes of red to define the hand reaching across the figure's back. It's like he's mapping the contours of the body, feeling his way through the embrace. The yellow and greens are visceral, like the colours of digestion, and the embrace can almost be read as violent, as well as tender. Thinking of other artists, I’m reminded of Marlene Dumas, who also uses the body to explore complex emotions and psychological states, but here Clemente uses soft lines and a dreamy palette. Ultimately, the meaning remains elusive, and maybe that's the point. Art isn't about answers; it's about the questions we ask ourselves along the way.