Multiplication par Kariokynese 1948

Enrico Donati created “Multiplication par Kariokynese” at an unknown date, and with unknown materials. As you look at this work, consider how Donati was influenced by the interwar period. His time in Paris in the 1930s introduced him to Surrealism, impacting his exploration of the subconscious. Consider the cultural and political anxieties of this time, as Donati, an Italian émigré in Paris, was no doubt experiencing and processing some complex personal and political struggles during the interwar period, as many artists and intellectuals sought refuge from rising fascism. The work plays with geometric forms and layered space, hinting at the era’s complex social and political structures. “Multiplication par Kariokynese” reflects Donati’s personal negotiation of identity and the broader dynamics of a world in flux. The painting invites viewers to contemplate the multifaceted layers of identity amidst historical change.