Mario Schifano – Paesaggio Anemico, 1979

“Paesaggio Anemico” from 1979 represents a pivotal moment in Mario Schifano’s artistic journey. With his mastery of blending line, matter, and color, Schifano delivers an evocative and impactful artwork. This unique piece, crafted in enamel and pastel on canvas (81 x 110 cm), stands out for its dynamic interplay of intense brushstrokes and a dramatic dark sky, punctuated by a large white moon—both symbolic and poetic.

The lower part of the work is defined by warm, earthy tones and gestural brushstrokes that evoke a primal and sensory dimension of the landscape. Every detail radiates Schifano’s signature expressive urgency and tension, transforming painting into a visceral, physical experience.

Mario Schifano and the Language of Modernity

Schifano is universally recognized as one of the leading figures of Analytical Painting and Italian Pop Art, celebrated for his ability to redefine contemporary imagery through bold gestures and cultural references. This 1979 piece exemplifies his mature style, where the landscape transcends representation to become an inner vision—almost cinematic—of reality.

As the artist himself once said: “Perhaps for me, childhood never ended, not even now that I’m rather advanced in years. I don’t mean to sound presumptuous, but by childhood I mean the ability to continue observing the world with a... magical gaze.”

An Artist Between Tradition and Innovation

Born in Homs, Libya in 1934 and moving to Rome during World War II, Mario Schifano was a tireless innovator. From his first solo exhibitions in the 1950s to his monochrome paintings of 1960 and his “Paesaggio Anemico” showcased at the 1964 Venice Biennale, his career was marked by constant stylistic evolution. In the 1970s, he experimented with film, video, and television imagery before returning to painting with cycles like Orto Botanico and Ninfee. His work has been internationally recognized, culminating in a major retrospective at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome in 2008 that cemented his status as a central figure in contemporary art.

Market Value and Recent Data

The market for Mario Schifano’s works has shown steady growth in recent years. In particular, pieces from the “Paesaggio Anemico” series have performed well at international auctions. For example, a similar work from 1979–1980 sold for €30,000 (approximately $31,710) at Aste Bolaffi in November 2023 (source: barnebys.com). Another piece from the same series fetched €36,000 (approximately $38,052) at auction (source: barnebys.com).

According to data from MutualArt, the average sale price for Schifano’s works between 2020 and 2025 is around $11,700, with an annual growth rate of 4% (source: mutualart.com). These figures highlight the continued appreciation of Schifano’s work in the contemporary art market.

Why Collect “Paesaggio Anemico”

Collecting a piece from Mario Schifano’s “Paesaggio Anemico” series means owning a significant chapter of 20th-century Italian art history. These works stand at the intersection of abstraction and representation, between matter and imagination. Their ability to evoke inner landscapes and universal states of mind makes them particularly prized among collectors and art enthusiasts.