Juan del Prete (Argentina1897-1987) Figura, oil on cardboard backed with canvas, signed lower right, signed and titled verso, framed. 28 x 19.5 in. 31 in. x 21 in. as framed Condition: Very good with some minor wear to edges of cardboard. Juan del Prete (Italian/Argentinian 1897-1987) Born in Italy, Juan del Prete immigrated to Argentina in 1909 and studied briefly at the Academia Perugino and Mutualidad de Estudiantes de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires, where he participated in the El Bermellon Group. His early work was representational including landscapes (1925/26). In 1926 he exhibited with the progressive organization Asociacion Amigos del Arte, which awarded him a scholarship abroad to study in France (1929-1933). In Paris he associated with important artists Hans Arp, Massimo Campigli, Rachel Forner, Joaquin Torres Garcia, Jean Helion and Georges Vantongerloo. He joined the abstract creation group in 1932. Also in Paris he exhibited with the Salon des Surindependents (1930-33). Gallery Zak held an exhibition of his work in 1930, and Galerie Vavin in 1931. His work of this period was characterized by colorful geometric abstraction. While he had attended several schools he was largely self taught. Around 1932 he began to venture into abstraction. After exhausting his finances he returned to Buenos Aires in 1933.