From 1934 to 1990, the year of his death, Alberto Moravia wrote about art, devoting himself to militant criticism for magazines, newspapers, and exhibition catalogues. More than a mere passion, it was a parallel activity that allowed him to narrate most of the twentieth century while focusing especially on figurative painting.
This publication, through around thirty works selected from among those Moravia loved and narrated most, is dedicated to this lesser-known side of the writer, demarcating his practice over time. Starting in the 1930s, Moravia wrote for the Sei di Torino, and in particular for Carlo Levi whom he had met in London, but also for the Roman School of Capogrossi and Mafai, establishing a lifelong friendship and understanding with Renato Guttuso. During the 1960s, Moravia nurtured a prolific exchange with Mario Schifano, who introduced him to Rome’s Pop art scene and to the practice of Giosetta Fioroni and Titina Maselli, without forgetting his interest in Surrealism and unconventional artists such as Antonio Recalcati and Piero Guccione.

Contents

Writing Capturing Painting
Riccardo Passoni
GAM Director

Born To Narrate
Rediscovering Alberto Moravia
Elena Loewenthal

I Don’t Know Why I Didn’t Become an Art Critic
Luca Beatrice

Alberto Moravia between Art and Words
Alessandra Grandelis

On Contempt
Jean-Luc Godard

On Contempt
Interview with Alberto Moravia

Works