The artwork titled “Craccae,” created by Francis Picabia in 1928, is an oil painting on canvas. Measuring 116.1 x 88.9 cm, it belongs to the Surrealism movement and falls under the genre of portraiture. This piece is part of Picabia’s “Transparencies” series and is currently held in a private collection.
In “Craccae,” Picabia employs a distinctive layering technique, characteristic of his “Transparencies” series. The composition reveals multiple human figures intertwined with abstract, decorative lines, creating a complex visual interplay. The overlapping layers give an ethereal and dream-like quality to the artwork, embodying the essence of Surrealism. The lines and forms appear almost translucent, merging the figures into a single, intricate tapestry. The use of red lines interspersed with softer hues adds depth and motion, leading the viewer’s eye across the canvas in continuous exploration. Overall, “Craccae” encapsulates the enigmatic and multifaceted nature of Picabia’s artistic vision.
