Eugen Drăguțescu

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Eugen Drăguțescu occupies a distinct position within the generation that emerged on the Romanian art scene in the late 1930s and early 1940s, later consolidating its profile in exile. His academic training was completed at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest under several leading figures of the period, followed by advanced study in Italy as a scholarship holder of the Accademia di Romania in Rome. This dual formation informed a practice grounded in disciplined draughtsmanship and structural precision. Working across painting, drawing and book illustration, Drăguțescu pursued an international career after settling permanently in Italy in 1945. Over more than four decades he maintained a sustained exhibition activity in Romania and abroad, with a strong presence in Italy, Western Europe and the United States. His graphic work, particularly the cycles devoted to Italian cities and landscapes and the numerous portraits of writers, musicians and visual artists, demonstrates a consistent interest in psychological definition and compositional economy. A significant part of his reputation rests on his activity as an illustrator, most notably his interpretations of Shakespeare, which secured broad international recognition. These works favour clarity of line, restraint of means and narrative concentration, avoiding chromatic excess or anecdotal elaboration. His career was acknowledged through numerous awards received in Bucharest, Messina, Venice and Paris, and his works are held today in major museum collections and private holdings across Europe and the Americas.