Man With Hat. Double-sided Portrait On Wood Panel. Turin, 1930s

Man with Hat.
Double-sided Portrait on Wood Panel.
Turin, 1930s

This double-sided portrait, painted in oil on a wood panel with a man wearing a hat on one side and a woman on the other, dates back to Mario Bionda’s years of contact with Felice Casorati. The painting reflects the influence of the magical realism of 1930s Turin and the Group of Six of Turin. The figures, immersed in a suspended, contemplative atmosphere, embody a metaphysical realism that characterizes Bionda’s artistic exploration during this period.

From the family of a collector and antiques dealer who had a direct acquaintance with Mario Bionda and participated in organizing one of his exhibitions. This direct connection with the artist grants the work historical significance, linking it to the cultural circles of Piedmont at the time.

Biography:
Mario Bionda was born in Turin on July 25, 1913. From 1927 to 1933, he studied privately in Felice Casorati’s studio, participating in group exhibitions organized by the master in various Italian cities such as Milan, Genoa, and Turin. At only 17, he exhibited at the 17th Venice Biennale with the work Case e neve, and in 1935, he participated in the Rome Quadrennial.
After spending time in Monferrato and Asti, he moved to Milan in 1939, where he founded a small toy factory, which he left to his sons in 1954 to devote himself entirely to painting. He collaborated with Alfredo Chighine and, through him, came into contact with Gino Ghiringhelli of the Galleria Il Milione, exhibiting in Italy and abroad. He participated again in the Venice Biennale in 1958. In 1983, he settled in the countryside of Asti in Penango, where he remained until his death in 1985.