«Marameo! Giornale politico satirico pupazzettato» (1919-1942). Critica d’arte e politica nello sberleffo ideologico

Abstract

The irredentist vocation in Trieste has been well represented since 1911 in the articles of the satiric publication Marameo. All texts were of course written in satirical tones what-ever the topic, coherently with the title of the newspaper – Settimanale politico satirico pupazzettato! (Puppet Satirical Political Weekly!). This tradition continued up until 1942. Marameo has recently become an important source for art historians who study the local artists that exposed their artwork in Trieste at Salone Michelazzi or at the paillon in the Public Park. The critiques often came with cartoons that pleasantly made fun of the art-work. However, the political turning point of the satirical paper was marked by the fire at the Casa del Popolo (“People’s house”) of the Slovenian community of Trieste. From that moment on, Marameo took the anti-Slavic nationalism road, which is very well noticeable in the critique articles about the exhibits, so much so that many experimentations from the 20th century are considered as slothful attacks to the authentic roots of Italian art.