La partita di pallone is an abstract painting by Mario Radice, created in 1933. Radice (1898–1987) was an Italian painter from Como and a leading figure in the abstract art movement that emerged in Italy during the early twentieth century.
The work dates from a pivotal period in Radice’s career, when he was among the first Italian artists to abandon figurative representation in favour of abstraction. Radice was part of the astrattisti comaschi, a group of Como-based artists including Manlio Rho, Aldo Galli and Carla Badiali, who drew inspiration from early European abstract experimentation. During this same period, between 1933 and 1936, Radice created abstract frescoes for the Casa del Fascio in Como, designed by rationalist architect Giuseppe Terragni. These ambitious wall works demonstrated his commitment to integrating abstract art with the rationalist architecture that fascinated him and many of his contemporaries.
About Mario Radice
Radice was an important Italian abstract artist who worked closely with leading rationalist architects of his generation. His career spanned nearly five decades, during which his work was shown repeatedly at the Venice Biennale between 1940 and 1979, including three personal room exhibitions.
Details
- Artist: Mario Radice
- Year: 1933
- Movement: Abstract art; astrattisti comaschi
- Period: Early Italian modernism
Frequently asked questions
Who was Mario Radice?
Mario Radice (1898–1987) was an Italian painter from Como and one of the first Italian artists to embrace abstract art. He belonged to the astrattisti comaschi group and collaborated with prominent rationalist architects including Giuseppe Terragni.
What movement does this painting represent?
The work exemplifies the abstract art movement that was flourishing across Europe in the 1930s, and marks Radice’s transition away from figurative representation toward non-objective composition.
Why is 1933 significant for Radice?
1933 marks the beginning of Radice’s most ambitious public project: the creation of abstract frescoes for the Casa del Fascio in Como, a rationalist masterpiece by Giuseppe Terragni, which he worked on until 1936.
