Renato Guttuso - The Brave Ones

This lithograph by Sicilian master Renato Guttuso clearly demonstrates this artist's constant interest in social realism, not only in his easel work but also in his graphic design. In the case of these "Bravi," created for an illustrated edition of Manzoni's "The Betrothed," one can see how the painter's aim was to immortalize a slice of everyday life. Guttuso interprets the scene as an unvarnished snapshot of a violent and unpleasant event, presented in his unfiltered realism.

This work is part of a series of splendid "artist's proofs" in which Renato Guttuso sought to refine his drawing technique. The composition achieves a supremely naturalistic rendering even through the simple formal means of the graphic line. Indeed, the artist needs only a simple, loose, and sinuous stroke to convey the fullness of the volumes onto the paper and sculpturally enhance his figures. In addition to his extraordinary precision in capturing sensory information, Guttuso also brings it to life through the play of shadows, achieved through precise hatching, which gently blurs the contours and renders them undefined. The realist element in Guttuso's art is also significant, and is evident in his lithographs as well, presenting the characterization of facial features with an expressionistic verve.

Renato Guttuso, born in Bagheria in 1911 and died in Rome in 1987, was a painter deeply involved in politics and social issues. His artistic commitment stemmed from his socialist ideals and his outrage over social injustice and abuses of power. He participated in the Fronte Nuovo delle Arti group, developing a Realist-Expressionist style of painting, developing his "social art." Guttuso's most important works, expressing his Neorealist art, were masterpieces such as "Fucilazione in Campagna" and "Fuga dall'Etna." He was also elected senator twice, in 1976 and 1979, for the Italian Communist Party.

The transaction takes place with maximum security for both the seller and the buyer. We take care of the conformity (provenance, authenticity, state of conservation) of the work and handle the shipping.
Returns are possible no later than 14 days after receiving the order.