-----Original Message-----
From: H-NET List for Italian History [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul Arpaia
Sent: 10 January 2007 15:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: REVIEW-Barbed Wit; Italian satire of the Great War' (Estorick Gallery, London)

From: "Jasmin Ditcham, Independent Scholar" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: January 10, 2007 10:14:41 AM EST
Subject: REVIEW-Barbed Wit; Italian satire of the Great War' (Estorick Gallery, London)



We recently attended the private view of the exhibition 'Barbed Wit;   
Italian  satire of the Great War' at the Estorick Gallery in Islington, London. The exhibition is being mounted with the assistance of the Imperial War Museum and sponsored by Jolly  Hotels St Ermins. The exhibition opens today, Wed 10th January and runs into  February.

For those with an interest of the politics, history and art of Italy immediately before and during WW1, this is a fascinating display of satirical  and propaganda art, posters and postcards with the added bonus of being  free to view to those who can produce a recognised student card.

The exhibition displays thirty six large original designs by less well known artists of the period including Virgilio Retrosi and Giulio Gigli and examines both the neutralist and interventionist stances taken up by Italy in the months leading up to the First World War.

The works criticise the action (or inaction) of various sections of Italian society, especially  the bourgeoisie, but also politicians and profiteers. It also satirises the stances of various world leaders including Kaiser Wilhelm, Maréchal Foche, President Poincaré and President Wilson.

It is a genuinely fascinating exhibition. There is also a very colourful exhibition catalogue written  in both Italian and English available which would make a very useful resource for anyone researching in this area. The gallery bookshop also contains many other useful volumes on Italian art of the early to mid twentieth century. Italophones should usually find someone at the gallery who speaks the language. There's also a very pleasant caffé on site!

The gallery's permanent collection is also worthwhile to students of   
Futurism and its offshoots and is easily the best collection of such art outside  Italy.

There will be four additional talks connected with the exhibition for which prior booking will be required (Tel 0207 704 9522)

These are:
=>'Barbed wit: an introduction' given by Michael Moody former research and information officer at the IWM on Sat 27th Jan at 3pm =>'War in the Alps; Italy 1915-1918' given by Christopher Duggan, professor of Modern Italian History at Reading University on Sat 24th Feb at 3pm =>'Italian and British satire during the Great war' given by Anita O'Brien Curator of the Cartoon museum on Sat 3rd March at 3pm =>'A difficult war to cartoon' Given by Dr Tim Benson, founder of the Political Cartoon Society and Gallery on Sat 10th March at 3pm

The Estorick Gallery is at 39a Canonbury Square London N12AN (Tel
0207 704 9522) The nearest underground station is Highbury & Islington about five minutes walk away. The curator of the gallery is Roberta Cremoncini and she can be reached at:  
[log in to unmask]

The Gallery's website is http://www.estorickcollection.com/home.aspx


Jasmin Ditcham 


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