Dawn of a Nation. From Guttuso to Fontana and Schifano, Exhibition, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, 16 March - 22 July 2018

Throughout history, art was influenced by the sociopolitical situation of the time, because what is art if not a creation by the artist based on their experience with the world? This was certainly true of the 20th century with artists such as Renato Guttuso, Lucio Fontana and Mario Schifano painting in reaction to 1950s-70s Italy.

The exhibition starts with Abstract art and its focus on painting the world through the subjective view of the artist, without regard for strict, logical colour and form. Then it moves to Arte Informale, which took even abstraction to a new level, playing with the idea of artistic spontaneity. Eventually this makes way for Pop Art and experimental monochromatic painting until we end with the Arte Povera movement, which uses non-traditional materials such as rags and wood. From history’s point of view, the works displayed are all symbolic of the time, characterised by the end of World War II, followed by an economic boom until 1968 around when there was widespread aversion to authority and the status quo. This look into the not-so-distant past is all the more interesting because it has so directly influenced our present, and what better way to see it than through the eyes of art?

Palazzo Strozzi

Piazza degli Strozzi, 50123, Florence 

Opening Hours

Friday-Tuesday, 10.00-20.00

Thursday, 10.00-23.00