Artwork

Evocazione creatrice della musica

Evocazione creatrice della musica, by Giovanni Segantini, oil, 1899
Evocazione creatrice della musica, by Giovanni Segantini, oil, 1899

Evocazione creatrice della musica is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Giovanni Segantini. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.

About this work

Overview

Evocazione creatrice della musica is a 1899 oil painting by Giovanni Segantini, an Austrian-born artist who later became stateless. Characterized by a predominantly dark color palette, the work features a central figure of a man in dark attire holding a white object, set against a bifurcated background of blue and brown tones with indistinct figures.

Subject & Meaning

The painting's subject revolves around the evocative power of music, symbolized by the central figure and the white object they hold, likely an instrument. The somber atmosphere and divided background may allude to the contrasting emotional realms music can evoke.

Technique & Style

Segantini employed Divisionist techniques in conjunction with Symbolist themes, evident in the painting's dark, muted color palette and the use of contrasting tones to convey depth and emotion. The artist likely utilized glazing to achieve the subtle, layered hues.

History & Provenance

Created in 1899, the same year of Segantini's death in Switzerland, the painting is now part of the Kunsthaus Zürich collection.

Context

Late in his career, Segantini transitioned from large-scale Alpine landscapes to works infused with Symbolism, of which *Evocazione creatrice della musica* is a representative example, reflecting the artistic shifts of the late 19th century.

Legacy

As a Symbolist work with Divisionist elements, the painting contributes to the understanding of early 20th-century artistic movements, though its specific legacy is intertwined with Segantini's broader oeuvre and the collections of Kunsthaus Zürich.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Giovanni Segantini

Artist

Giovanni Segantini

Giovanni Segantini (15 January 1858 – 28 September 1899) was an Austrian then stateless painter known for his large pastoral landscapes of the Alps.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Kunsthaus Zürich open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.