Ermina and Little Angel 1937

Romualdo Locatelli captured this image of “Ermina and Little Angel” using oil on canvas. Locatelli was a classically trained artist, highly skilled in the academic tradition of oil painting. However, he also traveled widely, absorbing other visual cultures. You can sense that blending of influences here. It’s not a slick, academic style but rather, quick, gestural brushstrokes, loosely applied. The material handling is expressionistic. Consider how this choice of method impacts the meaning. The artist made a conscious decision to adopt a painterly style, which would have been associated with authenticity, and sincerity. Yet, the scene itself presents a romanticized, sentimental image of a mother and child. Locatelli walked a fine line between respecting his subjects, and exploiting them for the art market. His skillful application of oil paint certainly elevates the image beyond the realm of pure kitsch, but we still have to ask ourselves - who is this painting really for?