In 1922, the Italian-based artists Vinicio Paladini and Ivo Pannaggi published their "Manifesto of Futurist Mechanical Art," declaring that the human race had become totally integrated into the world of the machine. It was illustrated with a drawing by Paladini of a man-machine which he named “Proletario.” A decade later, and in response to the 1933 Olympics, Paladini created a series of collages including the lot being offered. Here, an image of a man is pieced together with bits of Classical references. For by the 1930’s Paladini, as with many of the Futurists, used the glories of Italy's past to create resonating and inspiring images of their current country.