Mino Maccari, Portraits, Ink Drawing, 1940s

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Ink on paper. A succinct and incisive drawing by Mino Maccari, executed in black ink, presenting two complementary caricatural studies … Read more Ink on paper. A succinct and incisive drawing by Mino Maccari, executed in black ink, presenting two complementary caricatural studies of a male figure wearing a top hat. At left, the subject is shown from behind, glancing over his shoulder with a sharply exaggerated expression, while at right his profile is isolated and enlarged, emphasising the elongated nose, pronounced moustache, and alert gaze. Together, the two views function as a compact study of physiognomy and attitude. Maccari’s line is assured and economical, alternating between firm contours and selectively darkened accents that heighten expression without recourse to shading. The sparseness of the composition—set against a largely untouched ground—focuses attention on the character itself, underscoring the artist’s ability to distil social type and psychological nuance into a few decisive marks. The top hat, a recurring emblem in Maccari’s satirical imagery, subtly evokes themes of bourgeois respectability, power, and pretence. This sheet exemplifies Maccari’s mastery of caricature as an autonomous form of graphic expression. Closely related to his activity as a satirist and illustrator, the drawing demonstrates his capacity to transform quick observational sketches into pointed visual commentaries through wit, precision, and formal restraint. Signed Maccari lower centre. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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