Italiopa 1936

Oronzo Vito Gasparo, born in 1903 in southern Italy, created this mysterious artwork named Italiopa. Gasparo’s work gives us a window into the mindset of an artist living in a tumultuous time in Italy's history. Notice the face, split in two, bisected by contrasting colors and patterns. On one side, a pale, seemingly Western depiction of a man. On the other, a darker, veiled figure with a snake wrapped around its wrist. This juxtaposition asks us to consider the multiple identities that constitute a nation and perhaps the artist himself. Gasparo's own identity as a gay man living under a fascist regime adds another layer to this complex self-portrait. Is this a depiction of the internal struggle between tradition and modernity? Perhaps the representation of a divided nation? Or is it a contemplation of the artist's own multifaceted identity in a society that demanded conformity? Whatever it is, Italiopa confronts us with questions of identity, representation, and the complexities of belonging.