Dealing with texture and matter is central to Antoni Tàpies' work. But he refuses the formal analysis of the aesthetic possibilities of the material. Rather, he focuses on the quest for their magical properties and potential for transformation. His work is influenced by Raimundus Lullus, the medieval polymath, among others, which is manifested in the combinatorics that the artist playfully incorporated into his work. In Lullus, Tàpies sees not only the mystic but also the philosopher, poet and scientist. Not only do Tàpies' letters appear as symbols incomprehensible to the layman, but his name in the Spanish version "Llull" also appears in works and titles. However, the signs are often not interpretable and seem to have been included in the work only for aesthetic reasons. His characteristic calligraphy and characters include crosses, as in the present work, and the initials "A" and "T". The works by Tàpies refer to the artist's self-image as a shaman and "alchemist" who can recognize the nature of materials, change substances and give meaning to life. Many of his works are reminiscent of medieval votive tablets that are said to have healing effects simply by placing them on different parts of the body.
