Bruno Cassinari (Piacenza, 1912 – Milan, 1992) was an Italian painter and one of the leading figures in the Expressionist figurative movement of the second half of the 20th century. Associated with the Corrente circle, he developed a style characterized by solid forms, intense colors, and particular attention to the human figure. His body of work includes portraits, female figures, still lifes, landscapes, seascapes, and horses. After training at the Brera Academy, Cassinari took an active part in the renewal of postwar Italian painting. His engagement with Picasso and European artistic research contributed to the development of a style in which sculptural structure coexists with great chromatic freedom. Alongside paintings, he also created drawings and graphic works.
Training in Piacenza
Bruno Cassinari was born in Piacenza on October 29, 1912.
During the 1920s, he attended the Gazzola Institute, where he received his initial artistic training.
Drawing and the study of the figure become fundamental elements.
The artist shows an early interest in modern painting.
He later continues his studies in Milan.
Milan and the Brera Academy
After moving to Milan, Cassinari attends the Umanitaria school and art courses at the Sforza Castle.
In 1934, he enrolls at the Brera Academy.
He studies with Aldo Carpi, graduating in 1938.
Milan's artistic milieu offers opportunities to engage with artists and intellectuals committed to renewing figurative art.
The Corrente group
Cassinari becomes involved with Corrente, a cultural and artistic movement that brings together young painters opposed to the conformism of official culture.
The group attaches particular importance to freedom of expression and engagement with European painting.
Artists associated with this movement include Renato Guttuso, Ernesto Treccani, and Ennio Morlotti.
Cassinari develops an approach in which the human figure becomes the focus of emotional reflection.
First solo exhibition
In 1941, Cassinari holds his first solo exhibition, introduced by Elio Vittorini.
That same year, he receives recognition at the Bergamo Prize.
The exhibition provides an important forum for artists seeking approaches different from those promoted by official culture.
In 1942, Cassinari confirms his role among the leading figures of the new figurative movement.
Painting in the 1940s
During the 1940s, Cassinari develops a style of painting marked by a strong focus on the structure of forms.
The figure is constructed through solid volumes.
Color takes on an expressive function.
The composition retains recognizable references, but does not seek a naturalistic reproduction.
The artist is interested above all in the possibility of expressing his subjects' physical and psychological presence.
His relationship with Picasso
His engagement with Pablo Picasso is an important point of reference.
Cassinari looks to the Spanish master's ability to transform the figure through simplification and distortion.
The Cubist influence contributes to the sculptural construction of his compositions.
However, the artist does not abandon color.
Intense hues become a fundamental part of his identity.
Female figures
Female figures occupy a central place in Cassinari's work.
Bodies are represented through broad volumes and simplified forms.
The figure retains a monumental presence.
Color helps build the structure.
The representation does not seek minute detail.
He prioritizes the expressive force of the whole.
Portraits
Cassinari paints numerous portraits.
The focus is on the subject's presence and psychological dimension.
Forms can be distorted or simplified.
Color helps convey emotional intensity.
The portrait thus becomes a space for a dialogue between observation and interpretation.
Still lifes
Still lifes are another important theme.
Objects, flowers, and fruit are arranged in compositions characterized by intense color relationships.
The structure of the elements retains a particular solidity.
The painting focuses on the balance between form and color.
Seascapes and landscapes
Cassinari dedicated numerous artworks to landscapes.
Seascapes make it possible to develop broad, dynamic color relationships.
Nature is interpreted through a free approach to painting.
Forms can be simplified until they become essential structures.
Light contributes to the construction of the image.
Horses
Among his most recognizable subjects are horses.
The animal offers an opportunity to explore movement and structure.
The figure is built through volumes and energetic lines.
Color heightens the expressive force.
The representation is not simply naturalistic.
It becomes an exploration of the physical presence and dynamism of form.
Original prints
Cassinari also produced lithographs, prints, and drawings.
His graphic artworks often revisit the themes of his paintings.
Line makes it possible to explore the structure of figures in greater depth.
Lithography offers possibilities related to spontaneous gesture and the relationship between line and color.
His graphic work is a significant aspect of his artistic research.
International recognition
In the postwar period, Cassinari took part in numerous exhibitions.
His artworks are included in important Italian museum collections.
His painting earned recognition for its ability to unite formal structure and chromatic intensity.
His career is part of the debate on contemporary figuration.
The artistic legacy
Bruno Cassinari died in Milan in 1992.
His work is a significant testament to Italian painting in the second half of the twentieth century.
Through figures, landscapes, still lifes, and horses, he developed a style in which color and sculptural structure are inseparable elements.
Ti piace Bruno Cassinari?
Per ricevere gli ultimi aggiornamenti di questo artista, lascia la tua email qui sotto:Il tuo indirizzo email è stato aggiunto alla lista dell'artista.
