Sparire I, 1988

Etching, aquatint on copper plate and silkscreen print, in 5 colours, on Fabriano paper. Sparire I (1988) by Enzo Cucchi is a vast, brooding work executed in etching, aquatint, and silkscreen on Fabriano paper. Spanning 78 x 300 cm, this panoramic composition immerses the viewer in a dark, atmospheric expanse interrupted by symbolic interventions. A prominent arrow composed of tiny luminous dots cuts diagonally through the shadowy field, suggesting direction, force, or passage. The lower right corner glows subtly with a soft orange form, evoking earth, fire, or a buried presence, while the entire image pulses with a quiet, existential tension. The title, meaning “to disappear,” aligns with the fading contours and sense of vanishing that permeates the scene. Cucchi’s layered techniques and use of five distinct colors build a nuanced visual and emotional texture. This print, produced in an edition of 45 with ten artist’s proofs, is a meditative exploration of absence, transformation, and metaphysical space.