InBertarelli.com: A Great Afternoon Hideaway.

With the worst of the winter days seemingly behind us, and Carnival inaugurating the spring mood, visitors and locals alike are strolling the city a lot more.  Some enjoy the afternoon saunter in the city centre with its chic charm and busy glamour.  Others prefer the placidness of Parco Sampione with the pleasant sight of children’s play and the –always rare- whiff of fresh air.  However you chose to consume the great weather, we have an exposition that is sure to sweeten and spice your afternoon walk.

Overlooking both milieus, snuggly hidden in the northwest corner of Castello Sforsesco, lays InBertarelli.com; a pleasant and interesting exhibit composed of samples form the ample collection of printed art by Achilles Bertarelli, a local icon.  A pioneer in regarding graphic design as Art, Bertarelli begun gathering prints in the early 1900s, and first opened his collection to the public in 1927.  Presently, it has grown both in numbers and reputation, as the collection now spans over eight million images and is used as a great research tool across the world.   

The InBertarelli.com exposition is composed of a well-chosen sample from the Bertarelli collection that is broken down into four sections spanning from the artistic merit of publicity in Soltanto Pubblicità? to the evolution of space in Affissioni.  Beyond the emotional appeal of the exhibit itself, lies Bertarelli’s very idea: the role of graphic design as an accurate testimony of life in other epochs.  From bizarre Pirelli advertisings to familiar pictures of the cluttered streets of Milan, the audience can draw an instructive idea of the evolution of life in the course of the nineteenth century.  Furthermore, the abundant variety of artworks ensures the derived image is accurate.

Perhaps the most peculiar portion of the display is the array of posters and billboards from the post war period. These colossal images range from consumer products to art shows, and are testimonial to the contrast between the projected image and life in those days.

As Castello Sforzesco gracefully overlooks the most trafficked areas of the city, this free exposition is easy to reach and is sure to enthuse any day’s walk or workday break.

The Exposition is open daily until 17.30 (except Mondays).