Bitossi, 24cm

Music is on my mind lately. One of my favorite mid-century Italian singers is Gino Paoli, whose best-selling 1964 album collaboration with famous film composer Ennio Morricone, Basta Chiudere Gli Occhi (Just Close Your Eyes), produced a wonderful love song entitled “Vivere Ancora” (Live Again). The song, which starts quietly with some percussion and builds into a full orchestral arrangement as Paoli pours his heart out to his lover, is a classic which is still appreciated today — it was used as recently as 2020 to highlight a rainy scene in season two of the marvelous Italian series My Brilliant Friend. The song came to mind while contemplating this seemingly humble piece by Bitossi. When seen from afar, it appears rather quiet, but upon closer inspection you grasp the subtle details — the mild roughness of the neck, the glossy glaze used on the mouth, the lively piped-on yellow glaze, the painted black crystalline forms outlining the yellow lines — and it builds to something richer, just like Paoli’s song. Considering this piece was most likely created in the mid-60s, is there a chance “Vivere Ancora” was playing on the radio when the artist was working? One of the lyrics in “Vivere Ancora” runs Poter sentire vicino alla mia mano (Being able to feel close to my hand) — an apt line indeed for a ceramist! Could the song have been an influence? Puoi sognare…