Gino Severini was an Italian painter and a leading member of the Futurist movement. Born on April 7, 1883, in Rome, Italy, Severini spent much of his life dividing his time between Paris and Rome. He is best known for his association with neo-classicism and the "return to order" in the decade after the First World War.
Early Life and Training
Severini was born into a poor family in Cortona, Italy. His father was a junior court official, and his mother was a dressmaker. He studied at the Scuola Tecnica in Cortona until the age of fifteen, when he and a group of fellow classmates were expelled from the entire Italian school system for attempting to steal exam papers. Severini never again attended formal education but continued to paint in his spare time while working as a shipping clerk.
Severini's early work was influenced by the technique of Divisionism, which he learned from Giacomo Balla. He also befriended Umberto Boccioni, and together they visited the studio of Giacomo Balla, where they were introduced to the technique of Divisionism. The ideas of Divisionism had a great influence on Severini's early work and on Futurist painting from 1910 to 1911.
Futurism
Severini was invited by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Boccioni to join the Futurist movement. He co-signed the Manifesto of the Futurist Painters in February 1910, along with Balla, Boccioni, Carlo Carrà, and Luigi Russolo. Severini helped organize the first Futurist exhibition outside Italy at Galerie Bernheim-Jeune in Paris in February 1912 and participated in subsequent Futurist shows in Europe and the United States.
Severini's work during this period reflects the movement's emphasis on dynamism and motion. His painting North-South, created in 1915, measures 46 x 33 cm and is housed in the
Galleria Civica di Arte Moderna. This painting showcases Severini's skill and creativity as a Futurist painter.
Severini's Style and Influences
Severini's style was characterized by his use of bold colors and geometric shapes. He was influenced by the works of
Umberto Boccioni,
Carlo Carrà, and
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli. Severini's work also reflects the influence of Cubism, which he adopted after a visit to Paris in 1911.
Severini's most notable works include Waltz, a painting that showcases his Futurist style, and Self-portrait, a pastel on cardboard piece that measures 33 x 28 cm. These paintings demonstrate Severini's skill and creativity as a Futurist painter.
- Futurism was an avant-garde art movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century.
- Severini was a leading member of the Futurist movement, along with Umberto Boccioni and Carlo Carrà.
- Severini's work reflects the movement's emphasis on dynamism and motion.
- Severini's style was characterized by his use of bold colors and geometric shapes.
Severini died on February 26, 1966, at the age of 82. His legacy as a Futurist painter continues to be celebrated, and his work can be found in various museums around the world, including the https://WahooArt.com/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=galleria+civica+di+arte+moderna. Severini's contribution to the Futurist movement has had a lasting impact on the development of modern art.