Ernesto Treccani biography

Ernesto Treccani, born on 26 August 1920 in Milan, was an Italian painter whose artistic career and civil commitment were intertwined in a profound bond. Son of senator Giovanni Treccani degli Alfieri, founder of the Treccani Institute , he grew up in a rich cultural environment and soon appeared on the Italian artistic and political scene. From a young age, Ernesto Treccani demonstrated a strong inclination towards art and social change. He came into contact with avant-garde artistic and anti-fascist circles, becoming one of the founders of the group Corrente in 1938. This group brought together artists engaged in different artistic directions but united in the political struggle against fascism. In 1940, he exhibited his first works at the Bottega di Corrente together with other artists such as Birolli, Guttuso and Migneco.
The Second World War brought the closure of the Corrente magazine, but Ernesto Treccani continues to fight for the values ​​he believed to be right. He actively participated in the Resistance and, after the war, continued his political and civil commitment through his art. His painting became a tool to express his ideas and emotions, and his chromatic expressiveness became a distinctive sign of his work. One of the most significant periods in Ernesto Treccani's career was the 1950s, when the themes of his painting evolve. Personal experiences and observations of the contrasts between the rural reality of the South and the industrial urban landscape of Milan and Paris inspire him deeply. This duality is reflected in his works, where chromatic nuances and bold use of color communicate both the beauty and the difficulties of life. His painting, however, is not limited to the canvas. In 1978, he founded the Fondazione Corrente in Milan, a cultural center dedicated to the promotion of culture and art, as well as the collection and study of documents relating to the period between the birth of the Corrente movement and the years of Realism. This commitment testifies to his vision of an art intrinsically linked to society and cultural debate. Ernesto Treccani's poetics is also evident in his poetic works, in which the link between word and image merges in an uninterrupted dialogue. His poems demonstrate a profound interest in man and his role in the contemporary imagination, reflecting his commitment to participating in protest movements and social renewal.
His artistic research has evolved over the years, ranging from realism to intimate lyrism and, sometimes, to the threshold of abstraction. In addition to painting, he experimented with sculpture and produced works influenced by literary works such as Cervantes' Don Quixote and Boccaccio's Decameron . His incessant search for artistic expression took him to different places, but he always maintained a connection with places such as Paris, Macugnaga and Forte dei Marmi, which fueled his creativity.
Ernesto Treccani died in Milan on 27 November 2009 , but his artistic and social legacy continues to influence subsequent generations. His art was a testament to human and social commitment, a way to communicate the beauty and challenges of the world through the vibrant use of color and intensity of expression. His works remain as a reminder of the importance of connecting art with life and using art as a means to express emotions, ideas and change.