The contemplative and subtle paintings of Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964) continue to seduce. His work remains admired for its simplicity and directness, but is in fact highly complex: Morandi bridged the gap between a modernist denial of subject and a contemporary preoccupation with meaning. The intensity of his exploration and his capacity to uncover extraordinary depth within the pictorial surface has made him the quintessential artists' artist, with admirers among many artists active today. This book, the catalogue of an important exhibition at Tate Modern, illustrates still-lifes and landscapes spanning his entire career, from his early metaphysical paintings of 1918 through to his final works. Morandi's attitude to his time and his position within the international avant-garde is discussed. A new perspective is brought through interviews with contemporary artists who share their ideas on Morandi and his work.

Table of Contents

Foreword Introduction: Giorgio Morandi and the International Avant-Garde The Catalogue Artists Reflect on Giorgio Morandi Select Bibliography Index

About the Author

Donna De Salvo is Senior Curator at Tate Modern.