Via San Leonardo 

Ottone Rosai painted “Via San Leonardo” using oil on canvas, and it captures a street in Florence, Italy, with buildings rendered in muted tones. Rosai came from humble beginnings, and his experiences as a working-class man significantly shaped his artistic vision. There’s a palpable sense of solitude and introspection, which reflects the artist's own feelings of alienation. Rosai served in World War I, and this experience marked him deeply, leading him to embrace a unique artistic style. In this painting, the buildings appear almost as silent witnesses. He once said, "I paint with my heart, not with my mind." Rosai’s unique visual language eschews traditional aesthetic conventions. He instead embraces an alternative narrative that challenges the established social order. He creates a compelling sense of place that encourages the viewer to contemplate the emotional and personal dimensions of the artwork.