Product Description

In 1906 the Italian futurist painter Gino Severini arrived in Paris with no money, no name, and very few acquaintances, only to become a key protagonist in the artistic and literary circles that would spearhead the modernist movement. His autobiography from this period, translated for the first time into English, tells the story of the Parisian art world he knew so well, and offers a unique account of the individuals and ideas that created modernism.

Here we encounter painters and sculptors such as Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, Braque, Gris, Dufy, Léger, Delaunay, Duchamp, Lipchitz, and De Chirico; the literary figures Marinetti, Paul Fort, Apollinaire, Cocteau, Reverdy, and Jarry; and also the philosopher and writer Maritain, composers Eric Satie and Igor Stravinsky, and the impresario of the Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev. Severini shared their experiences in the studios, galleries, and cafés of Montmartre and Montparnasse, and re-creates the passionate debates that animated those gatherings. We witness not only the maturing of Severini's art and aesthetic theory but also the intellectual and political turbulence that brought forth a wealth of approaches to art in the first two decades of this century, including futurism, cubism, surrealism, constructivism, dadaism, and metaphysical painting.

Beginning with an honest, humorous description of his financially ill-fated family in Tuscany, Severini goes on to describe the triumphs and mistakes of his adolescence in the Roman art scene, where he fraternized with Balla and Boccioni. His down-to-earth tone pervades his anecdotes and assessments of the Parisian art world, enabling a casual reader to grasp the many issues at stake. As Severini's status as an important painter gains widespread recognition, this autobiography serves as a valuable resource for critics and a thoroughly delightful, engaging account for anyone interested in learning more about this artist who sheds new light on many of the crucial movements of the century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1782157 in Books
• Published on: 1995-10-30
• Original language: Italian
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 356 pages

Review
Much in Gino Severini's recollections is the day-to-day gossip of modernism at its peak.... Some of the most exciting movements in twentieth-century art. -- Review

Review
His story is told in a glib and chatty manner. Severini was a keen observer, quick to learn, quick to spot frailties and foibles, but last to criticize. There is a certain 'niceness' in his writing, the attitude of a Tuscan Candide. (The Art Book )

Much in Gino Severini's recollections is the day-to-day gossip of modernism at its peak.... Some of the most exciting movements in twentieth-century art. (Times Literary Supplement )

Review
Gino Severini was one of the lively founders of Italian Futurism. His autobiography, written with verve and charm, brings to life the debates, events, and challenges that characterized early Modernism in Milan, Rome, and Paris. (Anne Coffin Hanosn, Yale University )

Customer Reviews

An insider's look into the world of modern art
This book is neither a picture book nor a manifesto. It's a well-written artist's autobiography, something that is unfortunately quite rare. Severini is not a household name today, but he was a major player in the Paris art world of the early twentieth century. Best known as a Futurist painter, he describes himself as a reluctant member of that movement, and he dabbled in several "isms" over the course of his career. His close, personal friends included Picasso, Braque, Gris, Modigliani, Apollinaire, and Cocteau. His acquaintances included just about every famous modern artist in Paris, Rome, and Milan, as well as many you've never heard of. His greatest achievement in this book is to diagram, by means of personal anecdotes, the motivations and theoretical concepts of all these artists and their movements, how they influenced one another and how they contributed to the growing, shifting entity that was "modern art." In addition to painting, he includes literature, theatre, music, and architecture in his scope. Along the way, he gives vivid descriptions of the bohemian cafe life of Paris, and the occupational hardships of a (sometimes literally) starving artist. There's also some fascinating stuff about the business aspects of art-working with galleries, dealers, and clients-at a period in history when, much to the chagrin of the author, art started to become less about craft and more and more about business. Sometimes when talking about his own work, the author's prose devolves into unintelligible art speak, though that may be the fault of the translator. Severini is much more knowledgeable about poetry and philosophy than I am, so some of his discussions in those areas were way over my head. Those passages are brief, however, and 90% of the book was enjoyable and informative. I'm not a huge fan of Severini's painting, but his book pleasantly surprised me.

Life of a painter-Gino Severini
Terse and dense manifesto, not a picture book