Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Paolo Cotani Biography
Paolo Cotani, born on November 5, 1940, in Rome, Italy, emerged as a significant figure in the post-war Italian art scene, leaving an indelible mark through his innovative approach to painting and conceptual art. His journey into the art world began after graduating from Art School, which propelled him to move to Paris in 1959 to further his studies and immerse himself in the vibrant European art scene. This period was crucial for Cotani, as it allowed him to engage with the broader currents of contemporary art and refine his artistic vision.
In the 1970s, Cotani gained acclaim as a leading protagonist of the Pittura Analitica movement, a pivotal moment in European art that sought to scrutinize painting's social issues, psychological motives, and linguistic effects. This movement, particularly influential in Italy, France, and Germany, represented a critical response to the perceived obsolescence of painting as an expressive medium, challenged by the rise of Arte Povera and a new generation of conceptually oriented artists. Cotani's work during this period was characterized by his innovative use of monochromatic bands of colored fabric, which he superimposed in a quest for a painting that resisted the medium's conventional, even canonical, forms. This approach not only distinguished his work from his contemporaries but also marked a significant departure from traditional painting techniques.
Cotani's late production, curated by Alberto Fiz, highlighted a fresh expressive development in his work, particularly evident in his "Tensioni" (Tension Works) series from 1993 to 2011. These works represented a conceptual and physical "exit from painting," where the bands that characterized his earlier analytical paintings evolved into individual elements or composite works. Stretched between steel bars, these elements revealed their literal and reflexive state of tension, moving beyond the confines of traditional canvas composition. This evolution in Cotani's work underscored his continuous exploration of painting's possibilities and limitations, reflecting a deep engagement with the medium's conceptual and material aspects.
Cotani's artistic practice was deeply informed by the broader historical and cultural context of post-World War II Europe. Bands of cloth, a recurring motif in his work, resonated with the imaginations of numerous artists during this period, serving as a metaphor for the destruction and recomposition of the painting's surface. However, Cotani approached this motif from a rational rather than an emotional perspective, aligning with the analytical attitude of Pittura Analitica. His work interrogated the relationship between the surface and the painting's form, seeking not merely to deconstruct but to explore the potential for a new beginning for painting.
After 2000, Cotani's work reflected a shift towards decomposing the whole into its individual elements, emphasizing the distinct expressive capacities of each compositional element. This phase of his work revealed an elementary nakedness endowed with communicative qualities, where each band, held in suspense by fixed elements, displayed its own possibilities of reaction and intimate capacity to resist. This exploration of the individual element's expressive potential underscored Cotani's enduring commitment to pushing the boundaries of painting and conceptual art.
Throughout his career, Paolo Cotani's contributions to the Italian and European art scenes were profound and far-reaching. His work, characterized by a continuous interrogation of painting's conceptual and material boundaries, stands as a testament to his innovative spirit and enduring influence on contemporary art. Cotani's legacy, marked by his pioneering role in the Pittura Analitica movement and his explorations of tension, form, and materiality, continues to inspire artists and scholars alike.
Paolo Cotani Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
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informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
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