In Milan there is an exhibition where drawing seeks to give form to the ideal

A new exhibition titled "Ritratti ideali" (Ideal Portraits) by artist Stefano De Paolis has opened at Castiglioni in Milan, featuring four new graphite drawings. The works depict the artist himself in minimal, everyday actions such as reading, smoking, observing a gramophone, and drawing. The show explores the concept of the self-portrait as a vehicle for an ideal form, drawing a parallel to Antonio Canova's idealized faces. The drawings are characterized by their subtle modulation of gray graphite, creating a quiet, contemplative atmosphere that invites close viewing.

This exhibition matters because it presents a contemporary meditation on the tradition of portraiture and self-portraiture, connecting the artist's intimate, technically refined practice to broader art historical concepts of the ideal. By using his own image not for self-aggrandizement but as a means to embody an Idea, De Paolis engages with a lineage that includes Canova and reflects on the role of drawing in a fast-paced, alienated world. The show highlights the enduring power of meticulous draftsmanship and the quiet, spiritual resonance that can emerge from seemingly simple gestures.