Salvatore Fiume - Penelope

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 female figure is an expression of this aspiration, which spans 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 female figure has also been a central figure in the new aesthetic concepts brought about by the historical avant-garde movements, such as Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. Woman is at the center of Salvatore Fiume's work. A major source of inspiration for the Sicilian artist, she appears in the most diverse contexts. In this case, the artist draws inspiration from the myth of Penelope, Ulysses' wife, depicted gazing out to sea awaiting her husband's return.

In this work, Salvatore Fiume, while remaining consistent with his figurative language and his exploration of formal values, achieves a more expressionistic style. The subjects are more concise and essential, and the plastic component is diminished. The color is applied in compact areas reminiscent of Gauguin's cloisonnism, and the forms are delineated with few brushstrokes. The drawing is reduced to a minimum and, in the case of Penelope, gives the woman's face profoundly iconic features. Salvatore Fiume's desire, given the subject matter inspired by Greek epics, to draw on a pared-down representational modality with an archaic expressive power, is evident. The choice to structure the figure with enlarged, square forms also points in this direction.

Salvatore Fiume was born in 1915 in Comiso and died in Milan in 1997. In addition to being a painter and sculptor, he was also an architect. His career as a painter focused on a reinterpretation of classicism, particularly Renaissance painting and Piero della Francesca. Later, thanks to his success, he traveled extensively around the world, drawing inspiration from exotic folklore, which he rendered in an expressionist manner.

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