Description of the Work: "Vertical, 1978" by Giorgio Griffa
Vertical: Gesture, Rhythm, and the Radical Essence of Painting
"Verticale" is an emblematic example of Giorgio Griffa's rigorous research, created in 1978 with acrylics on canvas. This 79 x 122 cm work dates back to the most iconic and sophisticated period of the 1970s, when the artist revolutionized the concept of painting.
Griffa invites the viewer to reflect on painting as gesture, rhythm, and pure presence. On a simple, unstretched canvas, the artist freehand traces a sequence of vertical strokes that have no narrative intent, but rather punctuate the space with an almost musical cadence. In keeping with his vision, Griffa deliberately interrupts the composition's continuity: color alternates with emptiness and folds, leaving the painting suspended and unfinished.
This radical and humble approach is at the heart of his poetics: painting is understood as an ongoing process, a conscious act where nothing is decorative and everything focuses on the essence of the language of the sign. The work generates a subtle tension between what is visible and what is suggested, between light and shadow.
"Verticale, 1978" is in perfect condition. It comes from the prestigious Wolfgang Wassermann Gallery in Munich and is registered with the Giorgio Griffa Archive, accompanied by a certificate of archiving on the photograph.
Giorgio Griffa: Verticale (1978). Acrylics on canvas, 79 x 122 cm. Iconic 1970s work on painting as gesture. Officially archived.
