English translation: recognized in Manzù an unconscious longing for balance/desire for a focus
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:
fece situare [...] nel desiderio inconsapevole d'un centro
English translation:
recognized in Manzù an unconscious longing for balance/desire for a focus
Italian to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / painting and sculpture
Italian term or phrase:fece situare [...] nel desiderio ...
This is also the title of the piece I am translating and it is proving quite a headache to come up with a convincing equivalent in English. Here, the phrase is repeated and appears to be from a quote by an Italian art critic by the name of Giolli. I am providing the whole paragraph as context as I think it helps clarify where the writer is coming from. My main difficulty is with the 'situare Manzu NEL desiderio'. Maybe I'm following this too literally here and can't see the wood from the trees - but it's difficult when it's a direct quote.
Context: paragraph describing the works of Giacomo Manzoni (Manzù) and the sources that inspired them.
Here is the paragraph - the phrase in question is the last line:
''In Manzù, però, il segno, combattuto tra l’ingenuità della forma e il purismo lineare, sfuggiva all’eleganza, ai ritmi e alle simmetrie dello stile «impareggiabile» dello «stregone di Malaga» . Affiancando la Ragazza che si pettina all’opera che ne costituì la fonte diretta, il disegno La toletta della madre (fig. 15) realizzato da Picasso nel 1905 e facente parte della collezione Scheiwiller , avrebbero trovato conferma le considerazioni di Lamberto Vitali che in un articolo del 1938 rilevava come nelle prime grafiche di Manzù - quelle dai contorni grigi, sottili, quasi a punta d’argento - l’artista spagnolo si mescolasse ‘curiosamente’ ai primitivi . E forse fu proprio quest’attitudine a conciliare suggestioni non sempre coerenti ciò che a Giolli, mentre ragionava nel 1934 intorno alle ‘grandi polemiche del tempo’, fece situare Manzù nel desiderio, ‘inconsapevole’, d’un centro ''
Explanation: Hi Manducci, a couple of suggestions with two possible renderings for "centro". As for the "fece situare" part, since the author appears to refer to opposite factions/currents of thought (le grandi polemiche del tempo) I take it to mean "placed him among those who expressed/characterized by...", which I would rephrase in English (and I'm sure you'll find a better solution for that!). HTH
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 15 hrs (2011-10-20 09:19:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Thanks, Raffaella. Thanks too to the others for their comments. I went ''an inconcious desire for a focus'' in the end. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
To Neptunia: from a quick search, it would seem you are right - perhaps its better to stick as close to the original here. I will ask the client what her views are on this. Thanks for your input. It was really helpful.
It looks like phrase "desire for a center/centre" comes up all the time in connection to Derrida and logocentrism (in both Italian and English sources). Derrida does postdate your period but it seems like a catchphrase that means something specific. Sticking close to the Italian might be prudent here even if it comes out daft!
Hi Phil.. sorry, I thought I was being super clear but yes, you're right - the title is in fact ' Nel «desiderio inconsapevole d’un centro» (full stop after centro) which I have pencilled in as 'Desire Unconcious of a Centre', which of course sounds daft in English and maybe I will need to persuade the writer to come up with something else - though she is clearly attached to the phrase ;-)). I think what she might mean is a kind of 'anchorless' desire but this is just pure guesswork on my part and anyway the phrase itself is a direct quote from an art critic (who was writing in the 1930s). I have tried to find a reference to the original text on-line and have come up with zilch. Looks like I am going to have to sort this out with the author. Thanks anyway!
I'm not sure what "centro" means. Is it the last word of the sentence? There's no full stop, and it looks like there might be something missing.
Also, you say it's the title of the piece you're translating, but it's presumably not called "Fece Situare nel Desiderio".
I wonder whether it means "inspired in him the desire".
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Answers
3 hrs confidence: peer agreement (net): +3
recognized in Manzù an unconscious longing for balance/desire for a focus
Explanation: Hi Manducci, a couple of suggestions with two possible renderings for "centro". As for the "fece situare" part, since the author appears to refer to opposite factions/currents of thought (le grandi polemiche del tempo) I take it to mean "placed him among those who expressed/characterized by...", which I would rephrase in English (and I'm sure you'll find a better solution for that!). HTH
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 15 hrs (2011-10-20 09:19:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Sure, no worries!
Raffaella Panigada Italy Local time: 01:52 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Italian PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thanks, Raffaella. Thanks too to the others for their comments. I went ''an inconcious desire for a focus'' in the end.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Raffaella for your input. Much appreciated. I would like to leave grading for a few days while I check with the client. So bear with me ;-) OK?
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peer agreement (net): +3
