Italy V West Germany

ITALY V. GERMANY


August Macke


August Macke (3 January 1887 – 26 September 1914) was one of the leading members of the German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). He lived during a particularly innovative time for German art which saw the development of the main German Expressionist movements as well as the arrival of the successive avant-garde movements which were forming in the rest of Europe. Like a true artist of his time, Macke knew how to integrate into his painting the elements of the avant-garde which most interested him.

In 1911 August Macke joined 'Der Blaue Reiter', a group of artists from Munich. On another trip to Paris with Marc he got to know Robert Delaunay and his orphic way of painting. This colourful form of cubism made a lasting impression on him. The trip to Tunis with Paul Klee and Louis René Moilliet in 1914 also contributed to the development of his own style of bright, intensive coloration and crystalline design. On 26 September 1914 Macke fell at the western front in France at the age of 27.

August Macke's world of paintings is unmistakable. Quiet compositions, scenes of nature, the open countryside or of places inhabited by monumental, faceless figures show his harmony-seeking look at the contemplative world of the regular citizen - until the outbreak of world war I.

“The most important thing for me is the direct observation of nature in its light-filled existence.” August Macke.


Giorgio De Chirico


At the beginning of 1910, Giorgio De Chirico moved to Florence where he painted the first of his 'Metaphysical Town Square' series, The Enigma of an Autumn Afternoon, In July 1911 he spent a few days in Turin on his way to Paris. De Chirico was profoundly moved by what he called the 'metaphysical aspect' of Turin: the architecture of its archways and piazzas.

De Chirico is best known for the paintings he produced between 1909 and 1919, his metaphysical period, which are memorable for the haunted, brooding moods evoked by their images. At the start of this period, his subjects were still cityscapes inspired by the bright daylight of Mediterranean cities, but gradually he turned his attention to studies of cluttered storerooms, sometimes inhabited by mannequin-like hybrid figures.

De Chirico's later paintings never received the same critical praise, as did those from his metaphysical period. He resented this, as he thought his later work was better and more mature. He produced backdated "self-forgeries" both to profit from his earlier success, and as an act of revenge—retribution for the critical preference for his early work. He also denounced many paintings attributed to him in public and private collections as forgeries.

“To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere.”



The Match

The semi-final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup between Italy and West Germany is known as the "Game of the Century" (Italian: Partita del Secolo; German: Jahrhundertspiel;). It was played on 17 June 1970 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Italy won 4–3 after five goals were scored in extra time, the only FIFA World Cup game in which this has happened. The match was watched by 102,000 fans.

Italy led for the majority of the match, after Roberto Boninsegna scored in the 8th minute. However, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger equalized for West Germany during injury time at the end of the second half. German television commentator Ernst Huberty exclaimed "Schnellinger, of all people!", since Schnellinger played in Italy's professional football league, Serie A, at AC Milan (and with AC Milan he rarely scored) and previously for A.S. Roma and A.C. Mantova. It was also his first goal in 47 matches. The second half ended with the scores level at 1–1, and at this point the match became a battle of endurance during the two periods of extra time.

Gerd Müller put West Germany ahead in the 94th minute, but Tarcisio Burgnich equalised four minutes later and Luigi Riva put the Italians back in front. Gerd Müller scored again for West Germany to level at 3–3. Yet, as television cameras were still replaying Müller's goal, Italy's Gianni Rivera scored the decisive goal in the 111th minute. Being left unmarked near the penalty area, Rivera connected a fine cross made by Boninsegna, securing the victory for Italy at 4–3.

The stress and effort expended in winning the hard-fought match proved to be the undoing of the Italian team in the subsequent final game, where the ‘azzurri’ were roundly defeated by Brazil 4 goals to one. Brazil thus became the first team to win three world football championships and, according by the rules set out by FIFA they were permanently assigned the Jules Rimet Trophy.


Illustrated;

1. Pele at the 1970 World Cup Final.

2. August Macke, 'Woman in a Green Jacket', 1913.

3. Georgio De Chirico. ' The Mystert and Melancholy of a Street', 1913.

Composed 24 April 2010. ANZAC Day.