An exhibition dedicated to the great master, Renato Guttuso – entitled “Uniqueness of the Sign” – is running at the Centro d’Arte in Palermo until 19th February 2022.
The focus will be on the artist’s graphic work, namely the strong and incisive sign of his etchings and aquatints. A selection of 20 exhibits will be on display, ranging from the Sicilian landscape, to still lifes up to his timeless nudes.
The exhibits on display are the pride and joy of the gallery’s founder, Angelo Di Gesaro, whose entrepreneurial spirit and acumen has seen him build a rare and unique collection of this kind.
Guttuso’s exhibits are characterized by a compact layer of black aquatint and entrust the etching with the task of mediating the rarefaction of light. Darkening in shadow areas, now flowing more delicately on the plate make up the piece named “Basket with Curls”. This technique is repeated again through the fourteen color combinations in the piece named “Merlo”.
Thanks to his experimentation with light and particular tonal choices of reds, greens and yellows, the artist becomes a chronicler of reality. Such dramatic pieces succeed in indelibly imprinting in the minds of those who observe.
Even his women are depicted by the artist in a passionate tone. Incisive and marked in the sign, they catch the eye in an erotic and sensual emphasis. His Muse, Marta Marzotto, is the unquestionable protagonist of many of his pieces. She is portrayed in watercolored ink with only two colors, sitting on an armchair in a sensual waiting pose. More than meets the eye, Guttuso’s work must be scrutinized and investigated to the point of grasping the reality and the intimate essence of his pieces.
The exhibition is held in Via Resuttana 414, Palermo. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 16:30 to 19:30. It is closed on holidays, Sunday and Monday mornings. It will also be viewable on the raffaellogalleria.com platform.
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