Boldini's Modernity Meets Hartung at GAM Milan

The Galleria d'Arte Moderna (GAM) in Milan hosts 'Boldini e Hartung,' an exhibition curated by Omar Cucciniello, Barbara Guidi, and Alessandro Oldani. Thirty works by Giovanni Boldini (1842–1931), including paintings, drawings, and engravings, engage in dialogue with the permanent collection. The show opens with Boldini's 1892 self-portrait and features eleven works on loan from the Museo Giovanni Boldini in Ferrara, ten drypoint portraits by Paul-César Helleu, and three small bronze female statues by Paul Troubetzkoy from GAM's collection. Helleu's drawings reveal strong stylistic affinities with Boldini. 'La signora in rosa' (Portrait of Olivia Concha de Fontecilla, 1916) exemplifies Boldini's dynamic classicism and modern, almost photographic approach. His rapid, vibrant brushstrokes and energetic lines recall Hans Hartung's style. Boldini's portraits of aristocratic women, businessmen, and actresses capture the elegance of the Belle Époque and reflect a modern, emancipated femininity.