Image size: 46 x 33.5 cm.
- Sheet size: 62.5 x 45.5 cm.
Helena Vieira da Silva's Untitled (Rua das Chagas), created in 1987, is a limited edition lithograph with an edition size of 99 plus 10 artist proofs. The work features an intricate, abstract composition rendered in soft hues of grey, green, and muted blue. The fragmented and layered forms resemble architectural structures or cityscapes, evoking the dense and labyrinthine nature of urban environments. The title refers to Rua das Chagas, a street in Lisbon, which could suggest an abstracted, memory-based interpretation of the area. Vieira da Silva’s signature style is evident in the dynamic interplay of lines and forms, creating a sense of depth and movement that invites contemplation.
Helena Vieira da Silva (Portugal, 1908–1992) was a prominent abstract painter associated with lyrical abstraction. Her dense, labyrinthine compositions often evoke architectural spaces and shifting perspectives. Based in Paris, she fused geometric structures with poetic ambiguity, establishing herself as a major figure in 20th-century European art.
LithographLithography is a printing method based on the principle that water and oil do not mix. It can be used to print artwork or text onto paper or other suitable materials. Traditionally, an image was drawn with wax, fat, or oil onto a lithographic limestone surface or plate. Today, metal plates and other surfaces are also used in lithographic printing.
Image size: 46 x 33.5 cm.
- Sheet size: 62.5 x 45.5 cm.
Helena Vieira da Silva's Untitled (Rua das Chagas), created in 1987, is a limited edition lithograph with an edition size of 99 plus 10 artist proofs. The work features an intricate, abstract composition rendered in soft hues of grey, green, and muted blue. The fragmented and layered forms resemble architectural structures or cityscapes, evoking the dense and labyrinthine nature of urban environments. The title refers to Rua das Chagas, a street in Lisbon, which could suggest an abstracted, memory-based interpretation of the area. Vieira da Silva’s signature style is evident in the dynamic interplay of lines and forms, creating a sense of depth and movement that invites contemplation.
Helena Vieira da Silva (Portugal, 1908–1992) was a prominent abstract painter associated with lyrical abstraction. Her dense, labyrinthine compositions often evoke architectural spaces and shifting perspectives. Based in Paris, she fused geometric structures with poetic ambiguity, establishing herself as a major figure in 20th-century European art.
When I paint a landscape or a seascape, I’m not very sure it’s a landscape or a seascape. It’s a thought form rather than a realistic form.
- Helena Vieira da Silva
Helena Vieira da Silva (b. 1908 Portugal, d. 1992 France) was a Portuguese-French painter and one of the most prominent figures in thelyrical abstractionmovement. Her work is characterized by intricate, maze-like compositions that explore space, movement, and perception. Vieira da Silva's paintings often feature dense networks of lines and forms, creating a sense of depth and rhythm that invites viewers into a complex, almost architectural world. Influenced by Cubism and Abstract Expressionism, her art reflects a deep engagement with the dynamics of space and structure. Throughout her career, Vieira da Silva received widespread recognition, and her works are held in major collections around the world, including the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris and the Tate Modern in London.
Cubism is an art movement that aimed to depict multiple perspectives of objects or figures within a single picture. Artists Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso pioneered this style around 1907. The name Cubism emerged from their use of geometric shapes and outlines that often resembled cubes, breaking objects down into abstracted forms.