This catalogue deals with the oeuvre of Sicilian painter Renato Guttuso (1911–1987), then a member of the Central Committee of the Italian Communist Party and a key proponent of Socialist Realism. The exhibition, shown in similar form at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris the previous year, showcased two phases of Guttuso’s career: early pictures of the years 1940–1942 and new works made since 1965. The working group responsible did not wish to merely reproduce what had been seen elsewhere; in close cooperation with the artist, the exhibition was expanded to include drawings and political posters. With this catalogue, the group aimed to counter “certain ideologically motivated misunderstandings in the reception of Guttuso’s work”; to this end, the book is not only richly illustrated but also includes texts on the history of antifascist resistance in Italy and the political and economic situation of Sicily.

Ed.: nGbK

Work group: Ausstellungsübernahmen