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The Macchiaioli movement was born in Italy in the middle of the 19th century and developed throughout the peninsula, in particular in Tuscany, before the country’s unification in 1861.
A journalist who wanted to pejoratively describe their way of painting with the Italian word “macchia” which means “stain” coined the name “Macchiaioli”. These «Tachists» have appropriated the term to oppose the academicism of the time and to break with the past.
This style of painting is deeply rooted in the “Risorgimento” of this Italy which is finally reborn united. Preceding Monet, Van Gogh or Gauguin, these artists project their emotions onto the canvas and depict intimate scenes of everyday life.
The Macchiaioli live in Florence, Rome, Venice and Milan. They love the joys of the beach and the countryside. Unconditional lovers of the great outdoors, they represent this Italy in full construction to the rhythm of domestic or peasant scenes and Garibaldi’s army. Children asleep in the heart of maternal love, women in love or doctors and beggars, all of these beings in their daily life praise humble work in the light of such beautiful landscapes.
The Macchiaioli use chiaroscuro to play contrasting shadows with light. The laundry dries gently in the sun; the balconies are decorated with flowers. Delicacy, refinement and elegance are the hallmarks of these intimate artists.
Giovanni Boldini
Ritratto di Giorgio Sevieri, 1866-1867 olio su tela, cm. 35x25 Viareggio, Istituto Matteucci