Fornasetti Forever

I first learned of Piero Fornasetti from an article in Financial Times Weekend a few years ago. I was immediately attracted to his distinct graphical style which was at once modern (pop art) and metaphysical (surrealism of DeChirico, Magritte, Dali).  I saw clearly the influence of Picasso’s monumental Guernica (1937) in many of the works.  What I enjoyed about this eclectic mix was how Fornasetti applied these different schools of art to everyday objects such as plates, trays, ashtrays, screens and furniture to give them the kind of twist and mystery that makes one’s heart glow with joy.