Sun over the Fields (Plowing)
Work on paper, likely a print or pastel drawing • Manner of Giacomo Balla or early Futurist school influencers; possibly a mid-century European follower
Style & Movement
Futurism infused with Divisionism and Early Modernism
Medium & Technique
Pastel or colored chalk on paper, with visible linear hatching and concentric color blocking
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (circa 1930-1960)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 24 x 18 inches; Horizontal landscape format
Subject Description
A rural landscape depicting a peasant couple plowing a field with a horse, dominated by a massive, stylized sun emitting geometric, multi-colored rays that structure the composition as a vortex of energy.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; visible mild fading of pigments and slight undulation of the paper within the frame
Estimated Market Value
$500 - $1,200 (if unattributed/decorative); significantly higher if authenticated to a known Futurist
Auction Estimate
$300 - $800
Provenance History
Unknown private collection; likely acquired from a regional art gallery or estate based on the 20th-century decorative frame
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the Futurist fascination with light as an active, physical force and the 'dynamism' of labor, echoing the aesthetics of the early 20th-century Italian avant-garde.
Notable Features
The 'sunburst' effect is handled with a unique spiraling vortex center, and the lower-right corner contains a faint, partially obscured signature that requires infrared examination for identification.
Condition Issues
Pigment fading due to light exposure; minor paper tonal shifts (browning) at the edges near the matting; potential acid burn from non-archival materials.
Conservation Recommendations
Reframing with UV-protective museum glass and acid-free archival matting to prevent further degradation of the paper and pigments.