21. Abstract Composition [1957.]

In the abstract painting by Vasko Lipovac (1931 - 2006) from 1957, we see (if we can read the signs) the direction of his future artistic movement, but also his starting points. It is a composition horizontally divided into two parts - the upper, narrower, dark blue monochrome and the lower, with a rich color that emanates from a dense underpainting. Geometric figures stand out in each of these parts of the picture. If we wanted to seek associations with reality, we would see a boat in the upper form, and in the lower right a geometrically complex human figure, which are also the basic motifs of a large part of Lipovac's later work. I say if we wanted to, because the custom (in our place) is to measure the painter according to his more modernist, abstract, avant-garde aspirations, rather than looking for sources of abstract forms in possible real inspirations. But, Lipovac's development went from abstraction to figuration and I wouldn't dare to speculate what was first in the painter's mind. What is certain is that Lipovac's figurative representations are strongly determined by geometric stylization, correctness of the depicted forms that create the figures and the composition defined by the artist's pronounced sense of measure. In this painting, we see these bare regularities. We can think of it as a game of relationships - shapes, textures, colors, but also as a field of possibilities (including figurative possibilities) that are born out of these relationships. In any case, as in his most famous and popular marine scenes, Lipovac also shows himself here as a master of measure, which makes his paintings so attractive. FG

Dimensions

width 130 cm, height 97 cm

Description

oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left, in blue, ''V. LIPOVAC (19)57''

Research information

The work was created during the period when Vasko Lipovac was closely associated with the master workshop of Krsto Hegedušić, 1955 - 1959.

Dating

1957.

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