Ro Marcenaro Illustrates the Italian Constitution

Ro Marcenaro, an 80-year-old Genoese artist and pioneer of Italian television animation, has published "La Costituzione illustrata," a book illustrating all 135 articles of the Italian Constitution. Marcenaro, known for his satirical work and for adapting the Communist Manifesto into comics in 1975, softens his usual acidic style for this project, adopting a cartoonish but gentle approach. The personification of Italy, "Signorina Costituzione," appears as a lively blonde young woman rather than the traditional matron. The illustrations aim to make the constitution accessible to younger generations. The series was previously exhibited at Sala Borsa in Bologna and in the council chamber of Camogli, and is permanently installed in many Italian middle and high schools. The book is published by Toscana Book (Pontremoli, 2020, 160 pages, €14, ISBN 9788832142068) and is being purchased by several municipalities for distribution to students.