The artwork titled “Inside, Outside” was crafted by the artist Francesco Clemente in 1980. It is a gouache on nine sheets of handmade Pondicherry paper, which are joined by cotton strips. The work belongs to the Transavantgarde art movement and adopts a figurative style. It measures 67 3/4 by 92 1/2 inches (172.1 by 235 cm). Initially, it was located at Paul Maenz in Cologne.
The artwork presents a striking assemblage of nine panels, depicting an enigmatic interaction between two figures set against contrasting natural backgrounds. On the left side, a dense forest setting is painted, while on the right, a more serene and pastoral landscape is visible. The central figures appear to bridge the contrasting landscapes, suggesting a narrative or symbolic transition from one space to another. One figure appears frontally nude and is delicately manipulated by the other, who is portrayed in a crouching position from a profile perspective.
The use of saturated hues and the stark contrast between the two environments offers a vivid visual experience, characteristic of the artist’s vibrant color palette. Furthermore, the segmented nature of the artwork, created by joining multiple panels, adds a tactile dimension that invites the viewer to consider the physical and conceptual connections within the composition.
