The Small Hidden Painting

The house was sold with all the furnishings and accessories, most of which were to be thrown away. By pure chance, while separating materials before disposal as waste, a small painting painted in ink and attributable to the painter Carlo Montarsolo is discovered. But the hidden artwork also carries another enigma: a newspaper article. Carefully folded and placed between the painting and its backing, it recounts the story of an event that took place in Israel in March 1954, called The tragic ambush at the Scorpion Pass. Here you will find a selection of images that tell the story of the discovery of this mysterious small painting.

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Inks (1950–1960)

Between the 1950s and 1960s, Carlo Montarsolo created a series of very successful inks, characterized by a quick and dynamic line, usually monochromatic (though some are partially or entirely colored), aimed at synthetically capturing a place or context, typically everyday. They appear as notes, memories. In reality, the synthetic hallmark reflects one of the artist's traits, his ability to capture in the free and visionary line a mood, an environment, an atmosphere. Sometimes, an ascending force can be perceived in these works that tends to abstract the figurative motifs, which, however, remain recognizable and foundational to the image. This abstracting force redeems the anecdotal form of the scores, imparting a sense of timelessness and poetry to the image.
prof. G. Agnisola

la_stampa

the print behind which the painting was hidden

Montarsolo

the print "hiding place" and the back of the painting

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the support used for the realization of the painting

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detail of the plug closing the frame with signature and dedication

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the belly of the painting hides a newspaper article

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The article concerns the ambush at the Scorpion Pass that took place in 1954. However, it was not possible to understand the connection between the small ink and this event.