Nero 1968

Agostino Bonalumi made this artwork called Nero. It's hard to define, but it can be thought of as a painting, relief, or sculpture. Bonalumi was part of a circle of artists in Italy during the 1950s and 60s who sought to create art that existed somewhere between painting and sculpture and also wanted to break down the traditional art establishment. The monochromatic surface challenges the traditional ideas of painting, while the three-dimensional elements reject conventional sculptural forms. The title 'Nero', which is Italian for black, draws attention to the materiality of the work, inviting us to consider how the artist manipulates light and shadow to create an illusion of depth and movement. Art historians can interpret Bonalumi's work by drawing on manifestos and other writings by the artist and his contemporaries. We can also study the exhibition histories of these works and the critical response to them in their day. Considering the institutional and social context can help us better understand the significance of an artwork like this.