Woman's portrait

An artist close to the Scapigliatura, Emilio Gola is distinguished by a vigorous brushstroke that remains functional for a realistic representation of characters or landscapes. A sincere artist, he indifferently paints common people and noblewomen, seeking in the female aspect that countenance that justifies the creation of a work. In this context, for example, the unknown protagonist seems to rise from a cloud of dark colors that converge on the face, showing a sensitive face full of poignant and vaguely dramatic resonance. In this case, the influence of the Scapigliatura movement, which attempted to break down the quiet Italian academy, reveals itself in the manner of painting. Without reaching impressionist outcomes, however, the artist seeks the effects of light, while resolving them in the calm tones of a Milanese fog that seems to enter even inside the homes.