WORKS ON PAPER

Lorenzo VIANI Viareggio 1882 -Lido di Ostia 1936

Portrait of Raffaele Viviani, 1928

Charcoal and pastel on cardboard

101 x 70 cm

Signed lower right: all'ottimo / amico Prof. Simonetti / Lorenzo Viani / 1928

Exhibitions

I pittori del lago. La cultura artistica intorno a Giacomo Puccini, exhibition catalogue edited by A. Conti and G. Bacci di Capaci, Seravezza - Palazzo Mediceo, 18 July - 20 September 1998, fig. 78 p. 146, 173; Ai confini della mente. La follia nell'opera di Lorenzo Viani, exhibition catalogue edited by G. Bruno, E. Dei, Viareggio, Villa Paolina, 4 August - 28 October 2001, Pistoia 2001, fig. 18; Lorenzo Viani: pittore e scrittori espressionista, exhibition catalogue edited by E. Dei, W. Angelici, Ancona, Mole Vanvitelliana, 1 December 2006 - 18 February 2007, Cinisello Balsamo 2006, plate 18; E. Dei, Lorenzo Viani. Tra la Senna e le Apuane: l'apocalisse del segno, Florence 2009, series called I maestri della luce in toscana, plate 13, p. 45.

On the verso: Viareggio 23-3-955 / Posso assicurare che / questo lavoro è opera / originale di Lorenzo Viani / Renato Santini / Viale Ugo Foscolo 58/ Viareggio.

[Viareggio 23-3-955 / I can assure you that / this painting is an original work / of Lorenzo Viani / Renato Santini / Viale Ugo Foscolo 58 / Viareggio]

Lorenzo Viani (1888 – 1950) was a key figure in Italian Expressionism, recognized for his coarse, dramatic and deeply emotional style. His art stands out for its ability to grasp the psychological and social nuances of human suffering, making Viani an artist with a strong social commitment.

Viani's stroke was incisive and vigorous, often characterized by unflinching irregular lines that suggest tension and restlessness. The dramatic use of chiaroscuro emphasizes the plasticity of the bodies and faces, bringing a sculptural aura to the subjects. This expressionist style, with strong influences of social realism, makes his works immediate and powerful. In his engravings, Viani masterfully exploited black and white to enhance the contrast between the light and shade, thus intensifying the pathos of the scenes.

Raffaele Viviani was an Italian playwright, actor, musician and poet. His work and style lay within the Neapolitan theatrical and cultural tradition.

Fig. 1 - Photo of Raffaele Viviani

What do the artist and the subject depicted have in common? In short, what did Lorenzo Viani and Raffaele Viviani have in common?

Both were attracted by a social and realist poetics, committed to giving voice and face to oppressed, poor, and outcast people. Viviani brought the life and dialect of the Neapolitan alleyways to the stage, emphasizing the human nuances of the characters he played and wrote. Similarly, Viani, through brushes and engraving, captured the intense expressions of fishermen, peasants and vagabonds, addressing themes such as poverty and the struggle for survival. This attention to the representation of popular realism and social denunciation made the work of Viani and Viviani complementary and coherent. Both contributed to an art movement which reflected on the human condition, seeking to raise public awareness of social justice issues.

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