Mino Maccari, Seen and Taken, Mixed Media on Paper, 1960s

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Ink and brush on paper realized in 1960s. A striking and ironic drawing by Mino Maccari, executed in fluid ink … Read more Ink and brush on paper realized in 1960s. A striking and ironic drawing by Mino Maccari, executed in fluid ink and brush, depicting a grotesque human interaction rendered with extreme economy of line. Two distorted male figures are shown in a tense, almost predatory configuration: one crouched and looming over the other, whose head is tilted back in a gesture that suggests submission, discomfort, or theatrical exaggeration. The simplified forms, reduced to essential contours, heighten the expressive and symbolic force of the scene. The composition is accompanied by a handwritten inscription in Italian—“Visto e preso / Fare le viste / Fare le finte”—which functions as an integral element of the work, reinforcing its satirical and polemical intent. Text and image operate together to produce a compressed visual aphorism, characteristic of Maccari’s mature graphic language and his long engagement with irony, social critique, and moral ambiguity. The assured, calligraphic line and the deliberate distortion of anatomy exemplify Maccari’s mastery of drawing as a vehicle for intellectual commentary. Closely related to his activity as a satirist and illustrator, the sheet reflects the artist’s ability to fuse image and word into a sharp, unsettling observation of human behaviour and power dynamics. Signed Maccari lower right. 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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