Umberto Verdirosi - Self-Portrait with Characters

The iconography of Umberto Verdirosi's paintings often has allegorical meanings and can be defined, in some ways, as symbolist precisely because of its allusion to underlying meanings. Verdirosi's elaboration of subjects 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. However, Umberto Verdirosi stands out significantly from these artists of the late-nineteenth-century and decadent period. While the latter's themes were inspired by complex and refined literary quotations, Verdirosi's symbolism paradoxically draws its lifeblood from the reality of social issues. The protagonists of his works are outcasts, social outcasts, often belonging to the world of art and entertainment. In this sense, his subjects show some affinity with the protagonists of Pablo Picasso's "Blue Period."

The style of the painter Umberto Verdirosi is essentially figurative. His language, therefore, is grounded in reality, yet he always seeks to find his own poetry and allegorical system. Verdirosi's stories feature humble characters, social outcasts, but their existential experiences are sublimated by the Piedmontese artist's compositional approach, which shifts everything to a symbolic plane. The landscapes in which Umberto Verdirosi sets his works seem to belong to another dimension. Everything is immersed in a timeless atmosphere, frozen by an unreal light with gray or purple reflections. The spaces expand into desolate lands where few subjects move. Even formally, Umberto Verdirosi implements his transfiguration of reality into symbolism. His drawing is free, aimed at imbuing his characters with a folksy aura, describing them in great detail. However, his pictorial style tends to subtly synthesize his subjects, almost dematerializing them. They thus become impalpable presences that move in surreal and timeless spaces.

Umberto Verdirosi is an artist of Piedmontese origins born in 1935. He lives in Rome. Thanks to his parents, both actors, he has always been in contact with the entertainment world. In addition to being a painter and sculptor, he was also an actor and poet. His works are held in collections throughout Europe, as well as in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition to Rome, he maintains a permanent studio and exhibition in Orvieto.

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