Mario Schifano (1934-1998) - Senza titolo

The direct examination of the sheet out of its frame allows us to clearly define its main technical and documentary elements. The format is 70 × 50 cm; at the lower margin the acronym H.C., the pencil signature “Schifano,” and the dry stamp “2r” are clearly present. The surface shows in several spots a chromatic deposit perceptible also under grazing light and to the touch, especially in the green, brown, red, and blue fields: a characteristic coherent with Schifano’s material/multi-material serigraphy.

H.C. – hors commerce
The acronym H.C. indicates a hors commerce specimen, outside the normal edition intended for sale. H.C. specimens were normally reserved for the artist, the printer, the publisher, galleries, or for presentation needs.

Studio 2R / Rinaldo Rossi
The dry stamp “2r” is a particularly qualifying element. In Mario Schifano’s graphic production, polychrome serigraphies of format 70 × 50 cm with a dry stamp Studio 2R are documented, as well as works printed by Studio 2R / Rinaldo Rossi of Genoa. The comparison makes the framing of the present sheet coherent with that production.

Provenance Galleria Rotta
The back bears the stamp of the Galleria d’Arte R. Rotta of Genoa and the handwritten annotation “Mario Schifano grafica firmata.” The provenance, together with the 2r dry stamp, the signature, and the H.C. acronym, constitutes a documentary and material set of particular interest.

Research of the series
The composition has not been identified with certainty in a specific folder or series. Repertoires and catalogues of Schifano / Studio 2R serigraphs were consulted, including the 10-serigraph folder of 1995 printed by Rinaldo Rossi in Genoa. Format, technique, and printer are fully coherent with that production field, but no sufficient iconographic correspondence emerged to assign a title or series without forcing. For this reason the designation “Untitled” is maintained.

Condition
The sheet shows foxing and widespread yellowing, more evident in the light areas and along the margins. Legibility of the image and the chromatic strength remain good. The out-of-frame examination verified the absence of further marks, numbers, or inscriptions.