Smeralda Giordano Catti - Stopping the Forest Fire

The iconography of this painting certainly has allegorical meanings and can be defined, in some ways, as symbolist precisely because of its allusion to underlying meanings. It is a type of subject that can be linked to the artistic language of late nineteenth-century painters such as Moreau, Bocklin, and Puvis des Chavannes, who, while using a primarily figurative language, developed intellectually complex iconographies, full of symbolic and allegorical references. The subject, featuring two nude figures intent on stemming the flames devouring a forest by spreading a white veil, may conceal a deeper existential message beneath its apparent ecological theme.

In this painting, Smeralda Giordano reveals a highly creative Symbolist and Expressionist streak. Iconographically, it's very clear that we're dealing with a subject that doesn't claim to represent reality, but rather to convey hidden, underlying messages. While the interpretation recalls Symbolism, the execution of the painting further leans toward Expressionism, due to the remarkable synthesis of its interpretation. The subjects are delineated in a simple manner, while the application of color is gestural, especially in the depiction of the flames, achieving a heightened pictorialism with highly expressive effects. Thus, the scene seems almost dematerialized into a two-dimensional surface, where the relief is provided exclusively by the incandescent paint, giving the work a visionary quality.

Smeralda Giordano was born in Rome. From an early age, she was drawn to writing and painting, an art form already well established in her ancestors. With the support of her family and a strong determination that still distinguishes her today, at just eight years old, she painted her first picture on a piece of old sheet specially treated for the purpose. It immediately found a buyer. From that moment on, the requests began to grow. Giordano, however, treats her writings differently, defining them as stories told to herself to better understand the world and its people. The inner world of every human being is complex, even more so that of an artist, and Giordano is no exception when she decides to open this internal dialogue to anyone who wishes to participate. Thus, "Il Viaggio" (The Journey) was born.

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