Bruno Cassinari

Bruno Cassinari was born in Piacenza in 1912 and passed away in Milan in 1992. From the outset of his career, he focused on portraiture, signing the impressive Ritratto della madre, seduta, a mezza figura in 1936, just two years before graduating from the Accademia di Brera. His approach to portraiture transcended mere sociological representation, aiming instead to convey the unique individuality of his subjects.

Cassinari often chose to portray loved ones, as exemplified in Ritratto di Ernesto Treccani from 1941, where he delves into the intimacy of the gaze. The artist directs his attention to the expressiveness of the young face through a careful volumetric and spatial construction, emphasized by the horizontal and vertical lines in the composition.

His solid and essential language developed a personal tone during these years, particularly evident in his color choices. Cassinari favored simplicity and tenderness in his palette, opting for soft, whispering tones rather than bold colors. In this portrait, the hues occasionally take on a bluish cast, while the yellowish tones of the face are muted, suggesting a melancholic state of mind in the subject. Through this sensitive rendering, Cassinari's portraits evoke deep emotional resonances, inviting viewers to engage with the inner lives of those he portrayed.