Renato Guttuso (1911-1987) - Faces Behind Barbed Wire - Framed Ready to Hang

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Current bid
€ 80
Reserve price not met
Silvia Possanza
Expert
Selected by Silvia Possanza

Held senior specialist role at Finarte for 12 years, specialising in modern prints.

Estimate  € 350 - € 400
IT
€80
IT
€75

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Renato Guttuso’s Faces Behind Barbed Wire is a hand-signed, 27/50 limited edition lithograph (60 x 80 cm) from the 1970s, framed and ready to hang, produced in Italy.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

**Important original lithograph signed and numbered by Renato Guttuso (1911-1987)** 

Up for auction is an extraordinary graphic work by the master of Italian Neorealism, Renato Guttuso. This piece, featuring generous dimensions (approx. 60 x 80 cm), perfectly embodies the expressive poetics and the timeless social, political, and human commitment that made the artist one of the central figures of 20th-century European art. 

**Subject and Aesthetic Analysis:**
The composition is built upon a dense overlapping of faces with dramatic and bold features, highly characteristic of Guttuso's distinctive style. The gazes—intense, melancholic, and almost accusing—pierce through the visual space, immediately capturing the viewer's attention. Breaking and emphasizing this human suffering, strands of barbed wire run transversely across the artwork: a powerful symbol of oppression, confinement, deprivation of freedom, or a historical memory of wartime tragedies. 

From a technical standpoint, the vigorous black ink-like strokes blend seamlessly with delicate shading and tonal chiaroscuro effects (featuring warm earth/ochre tones on the central faces). This contrast grants a strong sense of three-dimensionality and extraordinary plastic power to the figures. 

**Rarity and Collectibility:**
This artwork is a highly collectible multiple due to its low print run: it is number **27 out of only 50 copies worldwide**, hand-numbered in pencil on the bottom left and autographed by the master on the bottom right. An unmissable opportunity to enrich your collection with a piece full of pathos and historical-artistic value. 


Frame - The artwork is sold complete with its vintage gilded frame and protective glass. The frame and glass are **included strictly as a complimentary gift**. Consequently, no complaints or disputes will be accepted regarding their condition or any potential damage to them during transit.
* **Shipping:** The artwork will be packed with the utmost care and **shipped via a professional courier service** with a tracking number, ensuring maximum protection and a safe delivery.



Artist: Renato Guttuso (Bagheria, 1911 – Rome, 1987)Title: Faces Behind Barbed Wire

Original multi-color lithograph (fine art print with tonal graphic interventions)Support: PaperPeriod: 20th Century (second half of the 20th century, from the artist's mature period of strong social commitment)

Sheet Dimensions: Approx. 60 x 80 cm - Edition Number: 27/50 (Limited edition print, numbered in pencil on the bottom left)Signature: Hand-signed in pencil by the artist on the bottom right (Guttuso)

Condition: Very Good / Good. The sheet shows slight and normal signs of aging and minor foxing, which do not compromise the integrity or visual quality of the artwork. Framed in a vintage gilded frame.

**Important original lithograph signed and numbered by Renato Guttuso (1911-1987)** 

Up for auction is an extraordinary graphic work by the master of Italian Neorealism, Renato Guttuso. This piece, featuring generous dimensions (approx. 60 x 80 cm), perfectly embodies the expressive poetics and the timeless social, political, and human commitment that made the artist one of the central figures of 20th-century European art. 

**Subject and Aesthetic Analysis:**
The composition is built upon a dense overlapping of faces with dramatic and bold features, highly characteristic of Guttuso's distinctive style. The gazes—intense, melancholic, and almost accusing—pierce through the visual space, immediately capturing the viewer's attention. Breaking and emphasizing this human suffering, strands of barbed wire run transversely across the artwork: a powerful symbol of oppression, confinement, deprivation of freedom, or a historical memory of wartime tragedies. 

From a technical standpoint, the vigorous black ink-like strokes blend seamlessly with delicate shading and tonal chiaroscuro effects (featuring warm earth/ochre tones on the central faces). This contrast grants a strong sense of three-dimensionality and extraordinary plastic power to the figures. 

**Rarity and Collectibility:**
This artwork is a highly collectible multiple due to its low print run: it is number **27 out of only 50 copies worldwide**, hand-numbered in pencil on the bottom left and autographed by the master on the bottom right. An unmissable opportunity to enrich your collection with a piece full of pathos and historical-artistic value. 


Frame - The artwork is sold complete with its vintage gilded frame and protective glass. The frame and glass are **included strictly as a complimentary gift**. Consequently, no complaints or disputes will be accepted regarding their condition or any potential damage to them during transit.
* **Shipping:** The artwork will be packed with the utmost care and **shipped via a professional courier service** with a tracking number, ensuring maximum protection and a safe delivery.



Artist: Renato Guttuso (Bagheria, 1911 – Rome, 1987)Title: Faces Behind Barbed Wire

Original multi-color lithograph (fine art print with tonal graphic interventions)Support: PaperPeriod: 20th Century (second half of the 20th century, from the artist's mature period of strong social commitment)

Sheet Dimensions: Approx. 60 x 80 cm - Edition Number: 27/50 (Limited edition print, numbered in pencil on the bottom left)Signature: Hand-signed in pencil by the artist on the bottom right (Guttuso)

Condition: Very Good / Good. The sheet shows slight and normal signs of aging and minor foxing, which do not compromise the integrity or visual quality of the artwork. Framed in a vintage gilded frame.

Details

Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Limited edition
Edition number
27
Artist
Renato Guttuso (1911-1987)
Title of artwork
Faces Behind Barbed Wire - Framed Ready to Hang
Technique
Lithograph
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Italy
Condition
Good condition
Height
80 cm
Width
60 cm
Style
Contemporary
Sold with frame
Yes
Period
1970-1980
ItalyVerified
81
Objects sold
100%
Private

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