Accession Number
1956/1.85

Title
El Sereno

Artist(s)
Afro (Afro Basaldella)

Artist Nationality
Italian (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1956

Medium & Support
lithograph on paper

Dimensions
22 1/4 in x 15 1/2 in (56.52 cm x 39.37 cm);26 5/16 in x 18 7/8 in (66.83 cm x 47.94 cm);19 5/16 in x 14 5/16 in (49.05 cm x 36.35 cm);22 7/16 in x 15 1/2 in (56.99 cm x 39.37 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
El Sereno is a nearly abstract composition that expresses Afro's emerging interest in Abstract Expressionism in the 1950s. Afro Basaldella, who goes by Afro, was born in Italy to a family of artists. His two brothers Dino and Mirko became sculptors while he focused on painting and printmaking. Afro moved to New York City in 1950 and his style gradually shifted towards Abstract Expressionism. The translation of 'sereno' seems to be applied specifically to security guards in the street. 

Physical Description
This composition shows irregularly layered patches of red, black, yellow, and cream, representing a tall figure with a ring of keys in his left hand in the lower left quadrant. 

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Abstract (fine arts style)
Figures
abstraction
color lithographs
figures (representations)
lithographs
modern and contemporary art
security guards
walking