Guido Strazza, Master Engraver, Turns 100 with Rome Celebrations

Guido Strazza, born in Santa Fiora in 1922, turned 100 on December 21, 2022. The milestone is being celebrated in Rome with a series of exhibitions and events. In late November, the Accademia di Belle Arti opened 'Il Gesto e il Segno,' a retrospective featuring paintings, engravings, and drawings from his career, along with a video interview. In mid-December, the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica launched 'Strazza/Cento,' displaying about 40 engravings and plates from the 1970s and 1980s, when Strazza taught historic courses at the Calcografia Nazionale. On his birthday, the Ministero della Cultura presented the general catalogue of his graphic work, a comprehensive collection of over 1,300 images. Strazza, a former student of Marinetti, worked as an engineer and surveyor in South America in the 1950s before returning to Italy in the 1960s. His style combines topographical visions with influences from Dutch landscapes and Roman ruins. In recent years, he has made targeted donations of paintings and engravings to national institutions and small museums.