Untitled (Abstract) 1937

Giorgio Cavallon made this untitled abstract print in 1937 with ink on paper. What strikes me is that the geometric and hatched forms are built through short, nervous strokes. The lines are layered on top of each other, creating a density that is at once solid and fragile. I imagine Cavallon leaning over the paper, pushing and pulling at the image, trying to find a balance. It reminds me of the early experiments of Cubism, or maybe even some Constructivist ideas, but done with a raw, immediate touch. See how the shapes interact with each other, creating this tension between the controlled geometry and the almost frantic energy of the line work. It's a really interesting interplay, because it’s like Cavallon is trying to bring some kind of order to chaos, or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, he shows us that uncertainty and ambiguity can be just as powerful as clarity and definition.