Racconto alla strega no. 1 c. 1960 - 1964

Pietro Consagra made this abstract sculpture, "Racconto alla strega no. 1" – or "A Tale for a Witch No. 1" – from painted wood and metal. The rough, almost violent, application of white paint across the wood suggests a frantic energy, a process of layering and excavation. See how the metal elements jut out, casting shadows that dance across the surface. There’s this one jagged piece near the top; it pierces the calm of the white like a thought interrupting a dream. The textures are raw, immediate. You can almost feel the rust on the metal, the grain of the wood. It’s as if Consagra is inviting us to touch, to experience the physicality of his creation. The way these different materials are brought together to tell a story reminds me of Kurt Schwitters. It's like he's not just making an object, but conjuring a world.