Composizione 1944

Atanasio Soldati made this ‘Composizione’ with oil paint and a clear love for geometric forms. It’s so satisfying how he’s blocked in these shapes, letting us see the making, the building, and adjustments that go into the process. There's a thickness to the paint, a real materiality that pulls you in. Look at how the blocks of yellow snuggle up against the bold black, both softened by the creamy texture that lets the brushstrokes sing out. The red background isn’t just a backdrop, it’s almost like another shape fighting for space, a bit like some of Léger’s work. That black form, slightly off-kilter, almost feels like it’s trying to escape the frame. It’s this kind of tension, this little bit of awkwardness, that makes the whole composition sing. There's no single right way to read it, and that's the point!