Palazzo Ducale Exhibition Explores Italian Art of the 1920s

The exhibition 'Gli Anni Venti' at Palazzo Ducale in Genoa delves into the intimate and psychological dimensions of Italian art from the 1920s, moving beyond Futurist celebrations of speed to explore post-war trauma, social change, and individual anxieties. The show features works by artists such as Anselmo Bucci, Gino Severini, Felice Casorati, and Arturo Martini, addressing themes like the plight of war veterans, the emergence of the modern woman, and the rise of Fascism. Key pieces include Bucci's 'Millenovecentodiciotto,' inspired by a photograph from the Plava front, and Severini's depictions of motherhood with weary realism. The exhibition also highlights the café society of the era, the impact of urban modernity, and the persistence of rural traditions. It examines the ambivalent relationship with Mussolini's regime, with sculptures by Adolfo Wildt and Thayaht paying homage, while Giandante X's distorted portrait from 1923 seems to foresee Fascism's fall. The show closes with two symbolic works by Arturo Martini, 'La pisana' and 'La lupa ferita,' encapsulating the decade's desire for escape and self-reflection. Curated by Niccolò Lucarelli, the exhibition presents over 100 works from public and private collections, offering a nuanced view of a transformative period in Italian art.