Who painted Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (IV)?

Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (IV) was painted by Chryssa (Vardea-Mavromichali) in 1962.

Where can I see Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (IV)?

Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (IV) is held by Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus.

Artwork

Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (IV)

Chryssa (Vardea-Mavromichali) , 1962

Σπουδή για το Γράμμα Β (IV) is a drawing by Chryssa (Vardea-Mavromichali). It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus.

About this work

Overview

Created in the early 1960s, this work isolates the capital letter B and renders it as a fragmented composition of intersecting lines and stippled dots. The image treats the character as a formal object, breaking it into geometric fragments that hover across the paper like a deconstructed puzzle.

Subject & Meaning

Chryssa’s focus on the letter B reflects her broader interest in the visual qualities of written symbols. By stripping the character of its linguistic function, she invites viewers to consider the shape, rhythm, and spatial dynamics inherent in typographic forms.

Technique & Style

The piece employs cross‑hatching and stippling to delineate sharp, angular fragments of the letter. These drawing methods generate a dense network of lines and points that suggest both solidity and translucency, echoing the luminous quality of her later neon works.

History & Provenance

The drawing emerged while Chryssa was based in New York, a period during which she collected discarded printed material from streets and newspapers. It belongs to a series of studies that preceded her neon sculptures, marking an early stage in her exploration of alphabetic abstraction.

Context

During the 1950s and 60s, artists increasingly examined everyday visual language, turning to signage, advertising, and typographic elements as raw material. Chryssa’s work aligns with this trend, translating the commercial visual code into a fine‑art investigation of form and color.

Artist & collection

Artist

Chryssa (Vardea-Mavromichali)

Chryssa Vardea-Mavromichali (Greek: Χρυσά Βαρδέα-Μαυρομιχάλη; December 31, 1933 – December 23, 2013) was a Greek American artist who worked in a wide variety of media.

Museum

Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus

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