Ralph Fasanella's America

Ralph Fasanella's America by D'Ambrosio, Paul S.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780917334269.

Ralph Fasanella (1914-1997) was a self-taught painter whose body of work is one of the most compelling artistic critiques of post-World War II America. His paintings--bold, colorful, loaded with detail yet unified in composition--speak powerfully of a distinct working-class identity and culture, and of the dignity of labor. They capture the past and express hope for the future. This profusely illustrated volume, which includes seventy-four color images of Fasanellas paintings as well as numerous personal photographs, provides the first comprehensive look at the life and career of this important American artist. Ralph Fasanellas America explores the formative influences on Fasanellas art: his Italian immigrant family and neighborhood; Catholic reform school; his work life; his involvement in progressive causes such as the Spanish Civil War and organized labor. The book also traces Fasanellas development as an artist by examining his paintings in the context of twentieth-century American social and political history. The author of this volume, Paul S. DAmbrosio, knew Fasanella for over sixteen years. From 1993 to the artists death in 1997, DAmbrosio conducted extensive interviews with him, his family, friends, and associates. He also researched Fasanellas life in numerous libraries and archives to complete a truly comprehensive biography.