La cosa stessa, 1984-85

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Archive number

GPO-0537

English title

The Thing Itself

Technique

Pencil and collage on paper

Dimensions

Nine framed parts 50 x 70 cm each, overall dimensions 155 x 215 cm

Collection

Private collection, L’Aquila

Description

The profile of a figure in ceremonial attire is matched with the discreet presence of two valets, symmetrically arranged to the sides. The depth of field is suggested by the scheme of a room – in the three sheets torn in the lower part of the painting the drawing continues on tracing paper – while the elements held down by the three figures are fragments from the same torn sheets.

Exhibitions

1985	Rome, Galleria Pieroni, Giulio Paolini. Giochi d’acqua, from 15 February.
1985	Ravenna, Pinacoteca Comunale, Loggetta Lombardesca, Giulio Paolini. Tutto qui, 15 June - 22 September, repr. no. 48.
1988-89	Rome, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Giulio Paolini, 24 November 1988 - 26 February 1989, cited in the checklist of exhibited works p. 95, repr. no. 21.

Artist’ writings

•	G. Paolini, “La cosa stessa”, in Gran Bazaar 10-11 (Milan), October-November, 1984, p. 65; republished in Giulio Paolini. La voce del pittore – Scritti e interviste 1965-1995, edited by M. Disch (Lugano: ADV Publishing House, 1995), p. 43.

Bibliography

•	G. Paolini, Voix off (Mâcon: Éditions W, 1986), repr. p. 96.
•	Giulio Paolini, exhibition catalogue, Stuttgart, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, 1986, vol. 4, repr. p. 43.
•	G. Celant, Giulio Paolini. Tra Telaio e Paolini (Turin: Gruppo GFT, 1988), repr. p. 15.
•	Il pensiero tangibile. Otto percorsi esemplari in Francia e in Italia, exhibition catalogue, Bologna, Galleria d’Arte Moderna (Ravenna: Agenzia Editoriale Essegi, 1992), repr. p. 56.
•	Risonanze #2. Giulio Paolini & Fabio Vacchi, exhibition catalogue, Rome, Spazio Risonanze, Auditorium Parco della Musica (Cinisello Balsamo: Silvana Editoriale, 2008), repr. p. 48.
•	M. Disch, Giulio Paolini. Catalogo ragionato 1960-1999, vol. 2 (Milan: Skira editore, 2008), cat. no. 537 p. 548, repr.
•	Giulio Paolini. O.D.E., exhibition catalogue, Monforte d’Alba (Cuneo), Castello di Perno (Alba: Fondazione Mancini Carini, 2022), repr. pp. 158-159 (exhibition view Rome 1988).
•	Giulio Paolini. A come Accademia, exhibition catalogue, Rome, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca (Rome: Gangemi Editore, 2023), repr. p. 206 (exhibition view Rome 1988).

Entry by Maddalena Disch, 29/06/2026