#36132 Franco Gentilini

The artwork presents a fragmented portrait, executed in pastel on paper. Here we observe a figure whose features are rendered with angularity and distortion, characteristic of early modern artistic explorations. The face is bisected by a stark division – one side depicted in warm tones of ochre and brown, the other in cooler shades of green and blue. This chromatic contrast immediately establishes a sense of duality or internal conflict within the subject.
The eye on the left side appears strikingly vivid, almost luminous against the muted background. Its gaze is direct, engaging the viewer with an unsettling intensity. The right eye, however, is less defined, appearing as a shadowed void, contributing to the overall feeling of psychological complexity.
A hand partially obscures the lower portion of the face, adding another layer of ambiguity. It could be interpreted as a gesture of protection or concealment, further isolating the subject and hinting at an unwillingness to fully reveal themselves. The neck is slender and elongated, culminating in a dark band that might represent a collar or scarf, emphasizing the figure’s isolation.
The background is similarly fractured, with blocks of color – red-orange on one side and green-blue on the other – creating a sense of spatial disorientation. These colors dont blend seamlessly; instead, they abut each other abruptly, reinforcing the feeling of fragmentation that permeates the entire composition.
The artist’s signature, “57 Guttlini,” is visible in the upper left corner, providing a temporal anchor within the early years of the twentieth century. The overall effect is one of psychological probing and emotional tension. It suggests an exploration of identity, perhaps fractured or suppressed, conveyed through a deliberate disruption of traditional portraiture conventions. The work invites contemplation on themes of duality, concealment, and the complexities of human perception.