Il linguaggio della satira a Modena Materiali per una storia dell’illustrazione umoristica tra Otto e Novecento

The node’s specific test of Modena’s illustrated comics, in the late nineteenth century and the first two decades of the twentieth century, made it possible to add new tiles of knowledge in an already existing historiography on the subject, drawing a historical framework in which the Modena’s illustration developed itself, both in reference to an urban context and beyond this. The complete photographic campaign has offered the opportunity to enhance documents with the result of new assignments. This led to the reorganization of the acquired data, as well as the deepening of the individual personality, highlighting aspects so far remained in the shadows. By the analysis performed, signs of major innovations emerged from the "Marchese Colombi" of 1893 and "La Sciarpa d’Iride" in 1897, so that they can be considered essential in Modena’s publishing publications in the specific field of illustrated comics. The first new feature is the collaboration of Umberto Tirelli to "Marchese Colombi" which, starting from 1895, brings the cartoon image to become the central node of the journal despite the text, this prerogative recognized by most critics as the the exclusive "Duca Borso" since 1900. In the assignment test has been recognized Umberto Tirelli as the author of cartoons traced in several sheets appeared between 1900 and 1903; in some cases, these partnerships were simply reordered, in others, we can talk of new assignments. Furthermore, from the analysis of fifteen years of "Duca Borso," it was possible to reconsider the common opinion of the critics, on the basis that the most prosperous period and lush of the magazine coincides with the direction of Umberto Tirelli. Between 1908 and 1912, in fact, on "Duca Borso" interesting illustrations of artists no less valid Tirelli are alternated, and yet, in the last two years of life, very young designers collaborate and such practice will herald them painting experience. It is found in these pages the figure of sixteen years old Mario Vellani Marchi identified under the pseudonym of Marius, in which has been tried to reconstruct a biographical profile as update as possible. Special attention has also been devoted to the Unique Numbers and to periodicals discontinuously issued, among which we remember "Il Navicello” on 8 May 1910, whose illustrations were attributed to the illustrator Aguini, who stole them from Umberto Tirelli. The catalog of Aguini has been enriched also by illustrations of other Unique Numbers appeared in Modena until 1913. After the break imposed by the war, the humorous illustration will be entrusted in its results in particular to Mario Vellani Marchi which, in 1921, along with Casimiro Jodi will establish "Il Gatto Bigio." Mario Vellani Marchi is the first artist that contributed to the developments of Modena’s illustrated comics during the twenties.