grottesca Print

The word “grotesque” recalls in our minds something bizarre, ridiculous or excessive, but actually it’s referred to the so-called “caves” (“grotte”, in italian), which were nothing but the excavations of Nero’s Domus Aurea, where wonderful decorations, with a precise stylistic character, were found . I do not want to dwell here in long historical speeches, but only to briefly illustrate its main characteristics. In the grotesque we often find curious creatures or human figures that blend with flowers and leaves, interweaving plants and animals that become thin geometries and spirals. The whole has an airy, light, captivating appearance in its singularity. Another aspect that emphasizes this unreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere is that the composition does not cast shadows in the background, but floats on it like the words on the page of a book. The grotesque doesn’t want to create a three-dimensional illusion, but it leads us by the hand, as in a game, in a world where everything seems possible. I find it incredible and marvelous that so sophisticated gestures sink into a past so far! Beauty knows how to overcome time and makes us feel close to what history separates with long distances. But I do not want to become too philosophical! I was inspired by a much more recent interpretation of the grotesque that, even if using a language appropriate to its time (early 1900s), maintains all the classic characteristics of the genre. The light from below and the changing colors of the leaves give the whole some kind of a “psychedelic” feeling, in my opinion, that fits well with the spirit of the grotesque!

Print:Giclee on Fine Art Paper

Size:6 W x 12 H x 0.1 D in

Size with Frame:11.25 W x 17.25 H x 1.2 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.