Still Life, 1979

Mario Bardi  

Lithograph on paper.
Hand and numbered in pencil.
Edition of 99.
Excellent condition.
This striking colour lithograph by Mario Bardi, dated 1979, blends the language of still life with an almost futuristic, industrial atmosphere.
The composition is built around a large circular form in warm yellow tones, acting like a glowing backdrop or spotlight. In the foreground, Bardi juxtaposes organic and mechanical imagery: a small cluster of yellow lemons with green leaves appears beside a blue patterned bowl, while to the right intricate machine components—gears, levers, and metallic structures—interlock like parts of an engine.
On the left, a stylised decorative figure or sculptural silhouette emerges in rich dark tones, adding a surreal and symbolic presence to the scene. The work is constructed through overlapping planes and horizontal bands, creating depth and rhythm, while the palette shifts between golden yellows, deep greens, browns, and black, with accents of blue.
The overall effect is both poetic and analytical: a meditation on the contrast between nature and technology, everyday objects and engineered complexity—typical of post-modern experimentation of the late 1970s.