Colline (Hills) 1990

Giancarlo Tognoni made this etching, called "Hills," using ink on paper. Although undated, it reflects his broader concern with landscape and abstraction, common themes in Italian art from the mid to late 20th century. Look closely, and you'll notice the geometric forms sitting next to naturalistic, yet still highly stylized, elements. This juxtaposition reflects a cultural tension of the period, between a desire to break from the past and a need to maintain continuity with it. Italy's rich artistic heritage loomed large for its artists. Tognoni was active in a period when art institutions such as galleries and museums played an increasingly important role in shaping artistic careers. Artists had to navigate the complex and sometimes conflicting expectations of these institutions. To fully appreciate this print, one might research the rise of abstraction in Italy, the role of government funding in the arts, and the changing status of the artist in post-war Italian society. All of these factors conditioned the creation of "Hills".