Roberta Scorranese explores women's bodies through art in new book

Journalist and writer Roberta Scorranese has published "A questo serve il corpo. Viaggio nell'arte attraverso i corpi delle donne" (Bompiani, 2023), a hybrid work blending essay, fiction, and art criticism. The book examines how female bodies have been represented in art history, from Renaissance masters to contemporary artists, while also addressing themes of fatigue, love, pain, and self-acceptance. Scorranese draws on her extensive art world experience and cites influences such as John Berger, Georges Didi-Huberman, and Hans Ulrich Obrist. The volume includes fictional stories of women named Rebecca, Anna, Adelina, and Corinna, alongside analyses of works by Caravaggio, Renoir, Raphael, Titian, Manet, Cindy Sherman, and Frida Kahlo. Scorranese argues for a contemplative, non-judgmental approach to viewing art, emphasizing the importance of "free eyes" and the idea that artworks can "recognize" the viewer. The book was released in September 2023 by Bompiani in Milan.