Arnaldo Badodi: The Forgotten Painter of Corrente

Arnaldo Badodi (1913-1943), a Milanese painter and key member of the anti-fascist Corrente group, is the subject of a retrospective at the Galleria Comunale d'Arte Moderna di Roma. Born in Milan to a photographer, Badodi studied at the Accademia di Brera under Aldo Carpi and later taught there. In 1934, he joined Corrente alongside Aligi Sassu, Renato Birolli, Giuseppe Migneco, and Giacomo Manzù, opposing official culture. In 1938, he published 'Pittura e pubblico' in the first issue of Corrente, advocating for engaged art. His paintings depict everyday people, circus performers, and café scenes with nervous, expressionist brushstrokes. Critic Marco Valsecchi described his gaze as 'a Charlot-like irony.' Badodi exhibited at the 1938 Venice Biennale, won the Gavazzi Prize in 1939 for 'La Battaglia di Milazzo,' and had a solo show at Bottega di Corrente in 1941. Drafted as a lieutenant of bersaglieri, he was captured in the Battle of the Don and died of typhus in March 1943 at Kamenskoye hospital. The exhibition 'L'estetica della deformazione. Protagonisti dell'espressionismo italiano' runs until February 2, 2025, featuring Badodi's work.