Metaphysical Masterpieces focuses largely on the short yet pivotal period of 1916–1920, which saw the end of the first phase of Futurism and sowed the seeds of Surrealism. The Center for Italian Modern Art (CIMA) is presenting a major exhibition devoted to masterpieces of metaphysical art, with rarely seen works created between 1916 and 1920 by Giorgio Morandi, Mario Sironi and Carlo Carrà, along with a key work by Giorgio de Chirico. Drawn primarily from the collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, as well as from other public and private collections, the exhibition includes works that have never before been seen in the U.S. and many have been brought together for the first time. Metaphysical Masterpieces 1916–1920: Morandi, Sironi, and Carrà will be on view from October 19 through June 15, 2019.
The term “metaphysical painting” (pittura metafisica) refers to an artistic style that emerged in Italy during the First World War. Closely associated with de Chirico, it often featured images of eerie spaces and enigmatic objects, eliciting a sense of the mysterious. Metaphysical Masterpieces concentrates on rarely seen early works by Giorgio Morandi and important paintings by the lesser-known artists Carlo Carrà and Mario Sironi, offering a richer and more nuanced view of pittura metafisica than previous exhibitions in the United States, creating a vivid portrait of the genre.
The exhibition is presented by CIMA in collaboration with the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. The Center for Italian Modern Art is located at 421 Broome Street, 4th floor in New York City. CIMA is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays from 1:00 to 6:00 pm and requires registration. Guided walkthroughs of the exhibition are offered both days at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. For more information or to register for a visit go to their website at www.italianmodernart.org.
