KEITH
DE LELLIS GALLERY
1045 MADISON AVENUE (between 79th & 80th Streets)
In at least a quarter of the 41 Italian landscapes
at De Lellis there is a solitary figure, often so small the terrain
must be carefully searched to find it. In several other instances
there are two diminutive figures. The purpose of this convention
does not seem to be to show puny mortals dwarfed by nature, but
to indicate that the landscape is not complete without the inclusion
of a human. This makes sense, since the earth has been cultivated
for so long in Italy, there can be little of it that is "natural,"
that has not been configured to be sowed and planted and built
upon for the benefit of those who live on it, and off of it. In
any case, the figures are at home in the scenery.
Like all the other pictures, Alberto Galducci's
"Untitled" (1953) is small format and black and white.
There are two naked trees in the foreground, a hedge leading to
the distance, some indeterminate architectural feature and, in
the lower right corner, in lieu of a solitary figure, a view camera
on a tripod. This signals the presence of man, and makes a witty
image to initiate the show. In Stanislao Farri's "Lago di
Mantera" (c. 1965), the lone figure stands with a fishing
pole on a bit of firm ground at the edge of the marshy lake. In
Guido Fumo's "Paesaggio" (c. 1955), the wee figure in
the foreground looks out at two cows, three sheep, a few trees
and the furrowed land; immemorial Italy.
—William Meyers
Mr. Meyers writes about photography for the Wall
Street Journal.
See his works at www.williammeyersphotography.com
Tuesday - Friday: 11:00am to 5:30pm
Saturdays: 11:30am to 5:00pm