A manifesto created by Carlo Bisi in 1938, this work exemplifies the graphic design and illustrative practice of an Italian artist working across multiple disciplines during the interwar period.
Carlo Bisi (1890–1982) was a versatile illustrator, painter, draughtsman and graphic designer whose work spanned editorial design, advertising, didactic materials and satirical illustration. After training at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Parma, he engaged with Futurism in his early career, contributing satirical drawings to Parmesan periodicals from 1911. His later editorial work appeared in national publications including Numero and Il giornale del Soldato. Bisi remained prolific throughout his career, creating characters, motifs and visual systems for publishing, education and commercial purposes. He is particularly remembered for inventing the character Sor Pampurio for the children’s magazine Corriere dei Piccoli.
About Carlo Bisi
Bisi’s career reflected the eclectic demands of twentieth-century graphic culture, moving fluidly between fine art, commercial design and mass media. His asymmetrical compositions and recognizable caricatures developed a distinctive approach to visual satire and editorial illustration.
Details
- Creator: Carlo Bisi
- Year: 1938
- Type: Manifesto, graphic design
- Artist’s life: 1890–1982
Frequently asked questions
Who was Carlo Bisi?
Carlo Bisi (1890–1982) was an Italian illustrator, painter and graphic designer trained at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Parma. He worked across editorial design, advertising, satirical illustration and character design, and is best known for creating the character Sor Pampurio for the children’s magazine Corriere dei Piccoli.
What movements influenced Bisi’s work?
Early in his career, Bisi engaged with Futurism. He subsequently developed a distinctive approach to satirical and editorial illustration, contributing to both culturally sophisticated publications and mass-circulation periodicals throughout the twentieth century.
What was Bisi’s role in Italian graphic design?
Bisi was a prolific and multidisciplinary designer whose visual systems and characters were widely used in publishing, education and advertising. His work demonstrated the range of skills required of graphic artists in the interwar and postwar periods.