Red and White Signals 1930

Bice Lazzari, an Italian artist born at the turn of the 20th century, created "Red and White Signals," an abstract watercolor that quietly speaks to the modernist dialogue of her time. Lazzari navigated a world where women artists were often marginalized, and abstraction was frequently coded as masculine. Her work subtly challenges these norms. "Red and White Signals" evokes a sense of coded language, a series of abstract symbols that hint at communication. The signals, however, remain elusive, refusing to deliver a clear message. Are these signals a reflection on the socio-political turmoil of pre-war Europe, or do they indicate Lazzari’s own experience as a woman in a male-dominated art world? In its delicate balance of color and form, the work feels both personal and universal. The painting invites us to reflect on the signals we send and receive, and the ways in which they shape our understanding of the world and each other.