Giuseppe Giacosa 1944

This is an undated ink drawing of Giuseppe Giacosa by Leopoldo Metlicovitz. The portrait depicts Giacosa standing, his hands casually in his pockets, sporting a substantial beard and a rather severe expression. Looking at this image, we have to consider the institutional and social contexts that shaped its production and reception. Giacosa, a well-known librettist, would have been familiar to audiences of Italian opera. The image of the artist, writer, and composer was changing at this time due to the rise of mass media and the increased celebrity of public figures. Metlicovitz would have produced this image for consumption by that audience. This image, made in Italy, is an artifact of its time. Images like these helped to solidify the idea of the artist as a figure of genius, worthy of public attention. By understanding how the institutions of art and media shape public perception, we gain a clearer insight into the social meaning of works like these. To investigate further, one might consult periodicals and theatrical programs from the period, held in national archives and libraries.