In the Palm of Dawn

Roberto Matta Chilean

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Roberto Matta once described his abstract paintings as "psychological morphologies." His epic surreal canvases from the 1940s and 1950s depict cosmic landscapes populated by bold hovering shapes. The atmospheric quality of In the Palm of Dawn contributes to set the mood of a dramatic scene capturing the fluctuating energy of natural forces. When Matta painted this work in 1953, his abstract imagery started to gradually incorporate social messages as he became more politically engaged.

In the Palm of Dawn, Roberto Matta (Chilean, Santiago 1911–2002 Civitavecchia, Italy), Oil on canvas

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