Untitled #4 (from a suite of various motifs featuring recumbent figures)
Original print with hand-coloring on heavy wove paper. • Sandro Chia (Italian, b. 1946).
Style & Movement
Neo-Expressionism; specifically associated with the Italian Transavanguardia movement, which emphasized a return to figuration and mythic themes after years of conceptualism.
Medium & Technique
Carborundum etching with hand coloring. This technique uses a silicon carbide grit (carborundum) applied to the plate to create deep, textural pits that hold large amounts of ink, combined with unique hand-applied pigments.
Creation Period
Circa late 1980s to early 1990s.
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 30 x 40 inches (approx. 76 x 101 cm); Landscape format with deckled edges.
Subject Description
The composition features a large, Herculean male figure in a melancholic or contemplative pose, lounging amidst stylized shrubbery. A large, abstract architectural arch or mountain-like shape looms in the high-contrast orange background. Typical of Chia, the figure is bulky and sculptural, referencing classical Greco-Roman forms through a postmodern lens.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good. The print appears to have full margins with the original deckled edge intact. Colors remain vibrant with significant impasto from the carborundum process.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $2,500 USD.
Auction Estimate
$800 - $1,200 USD.
Provenance History
The item is currently listed on an auction platform (AuctionZip). Likely originating from a private collection or a gallery specializing in contemporary European prints. Features a visible signature in the lower right and edition numbering (e.g., 21/50) in the lower left.
Art Historical Significance
Sandro Chia was a central figure in the Transavanguardia, a movement that revitalized Italian painting in the 1980s. This work reflects his interest in the 'heroic' figure and his mastery of printmaking techniques that bridge the gap between mechanical reproduction and unique painting.
Notable Features
Hand-signed by the artist in pencil; includes a low edition number; exhibits the distinctive 'toothy' texture of carborundum etching which gives the work a tactile, three-dimensional quality unlike standard lithography.
Condition Issues
Minor softening of the paper at the corners and potential light oxidation of the paper edges (common for heavy wove paper). No major staining, fading, or foxing visible in the digital preview.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be framed using archival, acid-free mounts and UV-protective glazing. Due to the texture of the carborundum and hand-coloring, it should be float-mounted to display the deckled edges and avoid compressing the media.