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The Bitter Cup by Letterio Calapai
The Bitter Cup
Letterio Calapai
Title
The Bitter Cup
Artist
Letterio Calapai
1901 - 1993 (biography)Year
1961
Technique
mixed technique intaglio
Image Size
35 5/8 x 23 1/2" platemark
Signature
pencil signed, lower right
Edition Size
T/P (trial proof outside proposed edition of 50)
Annotations
pencil titled and editioned
Reference
Landfall Calapai retrospective #14
Paper
heavy wove white BFK Rives
State
Trial Proof
Publisher
artist
Inventory ID
24174
Price
$4,000.00
Description
"The Bitter Cup" appears to be Calapai's largest intaglio, done in 1961 and is extremely rare. A large skeletal figure hovers over the much smaller figure of a man who appears about to be overwhelmed by a vortex or a mighty wave - death claiming another soul??
This a biblical reference: drinking from the bitter cup means that you accept your fate, whatever it might be, death or unhappiness, something that can't be avoided. The term comes from Jesus Christ sharing cups of wine with his disciples, knowing that it was God's will that he would be killed.