Pietro Annigoni - The Bathers

The human figure has always been at the center of artistic research. Since the classical age, the naturalistic rendering of human anatomy has been a primary goal of painters and sculptors throughout history. The representation of the nude is the highest expression of this aspiration, pervasive across all eras and stylistic trends. Indeed, in addition to the naturalistic interpretations of the Renaissance and various classicisms, which aimed for a truthful and detailed representation of the human body, the nude has also been a central theme in the new aesthetic concepts brought about by the historical avant-garde movements, such as Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism.

Even in this exquisitely crafted bas-relief sculpture, we can admire the technical prowess of painter Pietro Annigoni in his portrayal of the human figure. He is an artist capable of a completely naturalistic rendering, characterized by a high level of formal purity. The anatomical details are depicted with great truth in a soft and smooth form. The contours are undefined, thanks to a lightness of touch that allows the subjects to interact naturally with the space. In this specific bas-relief, the bodies of the two women almost seem to emerge gradually from the space, with the central part in relief and the extremities treated by the artist in a more abstract and synthetic manner, confirming his contemporary sensibility. Furthermore, even in the silvered surface, we can appreciate the interplay of shadow and light that enhances the volumetric consistency of the figures.

Pietro Annigoni (Milan 1910 – Florence 1988). In 1947, along with Gregorio Sciltian and the Bueno brothers, he signed the "Manifesto of Modern Painters of Reality," which advocated full adherence to natural truth through the use of ancient techniques used during the Renaissance. Annigoni's commitment to the naturalistic rendering of his subjects made him a great portraitist, admired by Europe's highest notables, so much so that he was called the "painter of queens."

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