Gouache and printed paper on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/mario-sironi-1947" aria-label="More by Mario Sironi" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Mario Sironi</a>
Syphon
Presented by Mr and Mrs Eric Estorick 1952
bottle
café
cup / mug
goblet
history
interiors
kitchen
military: World War I
newspaper - non-specific
objects
places of entertainment
reading, writing, printed matter
soda syphon
vessels and containers
World War I - non-specific
<p>Sironi was associated with the first generation of Futurists who gathered in Milan before the First World War. They relished the complex experience of modern life, the speed of modern transport and the latest innovations of technology. This collage brings together typical objects that would have been found in a café at the time: a newspaper, glass and syphon. The fragmentary pieces of real newspaper carry reports from the front lines, introducing a dark counterpoint to the congenial atmosphere of the café.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
paper unique gouache printed
The Syphon
support: 457 × 419 mm
Presented by Mr and Mrs Eric Estorick 1952
<p>Sironi was associated with the first generation  of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/f/futurism" title="Glossary definition for 'Futurism'"><span>Futurists</span></a> who gathered in Milan before the  First World War. They relished the complex experience of modern life, the speed of modern transport and the latest innovations of technology. This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/collage" title="Glossary definition for 'Collage'"><span>collage</span></a> brings together typical objects that would have been found in a café at the time:  a newspaper, glass and syphon. The fragmentary pieces of real newspaper carry reports from the front lines, introducing a dark counterpoint to  the congenial atmosphere of the café.</p>
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2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
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<p><b>Mario Sironi</b><span> 1885-1961 </span>
<br/></p>
<p><span><a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/sironi-the-syphon-n06042" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N06042</span></a> </span><b>The Syphon</b><span> 1916 </span>
<br/></p>
<p><span>Inscribed 'SIRONI' b. towards r.</span>
<br/><span>Gouache and papier collé on paper, 18 x 16 1/2 (45 x 41)</span>
<br/><span>Presented by Mr and Mrs Eric Estorick 1952</span>
<br/><i>Prov:</i><span>
Mr and Mrs Eric Estorick, London (purchased from the artist)</span>
<br/><i>Lit:</i><span>
Agnoldomenico Pica, </span><i>Mario Sironi</i><span> (Milan 1955), p.53 </span>
<br/></p>
<p><span>The artist was reported by the Galleria Il Milione in a letter of May 1953 as saying that he thought this was executed in the first months of 1915, but the newspaper cutting used in the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/collage" title="Glossary definition for 'Collage'"><span>collage</span></a> was taken from the 11 June 1916 issue of the </span><i>Corriere della Sera</i><span> of Milan. </span>
<br/></p>
<p><span>On the back is the left-hand section of a design for a canal or lock system drawn in plan and elevation, and with several short inscriptions of a technical kind. Sironi had studied civil engineering at Rome University for a year in his youth, before deciding to devote himself to <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a>. </span>
<br/></p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/><span>Ronald Alley, </span><i>Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists</i><span>, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.689, reproduced p.689</span>
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-09-15T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
bottle café cup / mug goblet history interiors kitchen military: World War I newspaper - non-specific objects places of entertainment reading, writing, printed matter soda syphon vessels and containers World War I - non-specific