Sparire II, 1988

Etching, aquatint on copper plate and silkscreen print, in 4 colours, on Fabriano paper. Sparire II (1988) by Enzo Cucchi is an expansive and enigmatic work that fuses etching, aquatint, and silkscreen print across a monumental 78 x 300 cm format. Executed in four colors on Fabriano paper, the composition evokes a dreamlike nocturnal landscape. The dark, nearly abstract field is punctuated by cryptic forms: a luminous spiral, a small pyramid, and a constellation-like string of dots stretching across the upper plane. These elements suggest an alchemical or cosmological narrative, hallmarks of Cucchi’s practice that blends mysticism, the subconscious, and visual poetry. The vast horizon and somber palette underscore the theme of disappearance—implied by the title Sparire, meaning “to vanish”—while the delicate line work and tonal gradations reveal the artist’s mastery of print media. Produced in an edition of 45 plus ten artist’s proofs, this print invites meditative viewing, offering a cosmos of symbols suspended in silence.