Giorgio Morandi's Studio Reconstructed at Casa Morandi

A faithful reconstruction of Giorgio Morandi's studio in Bologna, where he lived and worked for over fifty years, is now on display at Casa Morandi. The studio, located at via Fondazza 36, features original objects including a bright red chili pepper hanging from a horseshoe, a detail that breaks the solemnity of the glass case. The room contains Morandi's easel with dried rags, brushes with hardened bristles, a square on the wall, and a dusty table with vases, bottles, teapots, ceramic cups, and oil cans. From 1910 to 1964, Morandi painted only the landscape outside his window or the few objects on his table, never yielding to realism or abstraction. The reconstruction allows visitors to see the space as it was, though they cannot enter it. Photographer Luigi Ghirri famously captured the studio's light, and his photographs evoke a nostalgia for the world. The article reflects on Morandi's solitary practice amidst world wars and art movements, emphasizing his ritualistic painting and the elemental simplicity of his still lifes.