Giulio Turcato, born on March 16, 1912, in Mantua, Italy, was a pivotal figure in the Italian art scene of the 20th century, whose work spanned across both figurative and abstract expressionist currents. His early life was marked by a nomadic existence that took him from Venice to Milan, Palermo, and finally Rome, where he settled in 1943. This period of his life was not only characterized by his artistic exploration but also by his active participation in the Italian Resistance during World War II, reflecting his deep engagement with the socio-political issues of his time. Turcato's artistic journey began in earnest in the early 1930s when he attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. His time in Venice was formative, exposing him to the Cubist art of Pablo Picasso, which would have a lasting influence on his work. However, a chronic pulmonary illness forced him into frequent stays in sanatoriums, a challenge that, rather than hindering him, seemed to fuel his creative drive. By 1937, Turcato had moved to Milan, finding work in the firm of architect Giovanni Muzio, and by 1942, he had made his debut at the Venice Biennale, marking the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with the event. The end of World War II was a turning point for Turcato. He emerged from the conflict with a renewed sense of purpose and was among the signatories of the manifesto of the Nuova Secessione Artistica Italiana in 1946. A year later, he became a founding member of the Marxist-leaning, abstract art group Forma 1, alongside notable artists such as Ugo Attardi, Pietro Consagra, Piero Dorazio, Mino Guerrini, Achille Perilli, and Antonio Sanfilippo. This group was characterized by its commitment to abstract art as a form of political and social engagement, a stance that set Turcato apart from both the dogmatic socialist realism and the formalist abstraction that dominated the Italian art scene at the time. In 1948, Turcato helped to found the Fronte Nuovo delle Arti, further cementing his role as a leading figure in the post-war Italian art world. His work during this period was marked by a reluctance to fully embrace either politically and socially engaged art or formalist abstraction, a stance that led to a long-lasting ostracism and suspicion. Despite this, Turcato's art, increasingly founded on the free expansion of tone-colour, gained broad international recognition in his mature and later years, culminating in the Venice Biennale dedicating a room exclusively to his work at its 29th edition in 1958. This recognition was further solidified when he was invited to Documenta II in 1959 and joined the Continuità group in 1961. Turcato's style, characterized by non-figurative and anti-programmatic elements, was a testament to his belief in the expressive power of forms, spaces, colours, and movements. His work, while deeply personal, was also a reflection of the tumultuous times he lived through, from the devastation of World War II to the political upheavals of the post-war period. Giulio Turcato passed away on January 22, 1995, in Rome, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence and inspire. His life and work stand as a testament to the power of art to engage with and reflect upon the world, making him one of the most important interpreters of international pictorial abstractionism and a key figure in the history of Italian art.

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