We are delighted to present our latest exhibition celebrating the graphic works of two of Italy’s most important artists of the Twentieth Century – Lucio Fontana and Marino Marini. Whilst both artists belonged to different artistic movements, they shared a common love of sculpture and turned their hands to printmaking.
In the case of Lucio Fontana, born in Argentina to Italian parents, the artist spent much of the 1940s perfecting his manifesto and working towards his inimitable style exploring the two-dimensional plane in a sculptural manner. An initial absence of colour, but reliance on shade, texture and tone eventually gave way to the exploration of bold colours with either buchi [holes], tagli [slashes], or both. His graphic work primarily executed in the 1960s onwards were perceived deliberately to be understand in then contemporary ‘space age’.
For Marino Marini, it was a desire to interpret the historical Etruscan and Roman sculptures of Italy’s ancient past through a new, Modern style. Equestrian scenes and circus figures, often combined, are the mainstay of Marini’s graphic work. Utilising the concept of the horse and rider, Marini attempted to comment on the dark forces of Fascism in Europe and the struggle of man over beast. His allegorical figural representations set him apart in the tide of abstraction that swept Post-War Europe.
We hope you enjoy this opportunity to view a selection of etchings, aquatints and lithographs by these titans of Italian Twentieth Century art.