Lucio Fontana pioneered the movement known as Spatialism (Spazialismo) in the 1940s, seeking forms of artistic expression that transcended the traditional boundaries of painting and sculpture. Among his most celebrated works is Concetto spaziale, Attese (Spatial Concept, Expectations), part of the Tagli (Cuts) series produced from the late 1950s through the late 1960s. By making precise cuts into the canvas, Fontana introduced a radical new approach that moved beyond the two-dimensional surface of painting and opened it to a new conception of space. These cuts are not merely physical interventions; they evoke the infinity of the cosmos and unknown dimensions beyond visible reality. The title Attese (“Expectations”) suggests an awareness of time and the future, while also raising philosophical and cosmological questions. Carefully arranged across the canvas, the cuts create a rhythmic sense of movement and generate a rich spatial depth through the interplay of light and shadow.
In 1983, Seiji Tsutsumi established The Contemporary Art Gallery on the fine arts and crafts floor of the Seibu Department Store in Ikebukuro. Conceived as an experimental venue that would stimulate and complement the activities of the museum, the gallery presented solo exhibitions by artists who had not been featured in the museum’s program. The present work was among those exhibited there. During this period, Tsutsumi was photographed with the work in his Ikebukuro office by photographer Ikko Narahara, leaving behind a portrait that documents both the collector and the artwork.