David Smith (1906-1965) is considered the most representative sculptor in North American Abstract Expressionism.

Smith's work shows, until the fifties, influences by Joan Miró, Alexander Calder and Alberto Giacometti in the iconographic and in the processes and techniques he uses. On the other hand, Smith quickly finds references for his Amerindian primitive art sculpture in hand-made and religious crafts as well as in the models and industrial materials. With the Tanktotem and Sentinels series he begins his shift towards a sculpture based on the principles of monumentality, verticality and a balance between weight and volume. With Cubic and Zig as well as the Voltri, Smith insists on exploring the behaviour of sculpture in space.

The publication seeks to explain "the nuclei of force that determined the sculptor's artistic evolution" in the words of Carmen Giménez, curator of the exhibition. It brings together works by Smith, made between 1933 and 1965 and a selection of photographs by Ugo Mulas showing the artist at his studio.