A documentary by Eleonora Zamparutti and Piero Muscarà
From imperial Rome to contemporary street art, Art and Propaganda is a journey through history that investigates the complex relationship between artists, patrons, and power. The film explores how art has long served as a tool of persuasion, political messaging, and ideological influence — far beyond the confines of totalitarian regimes.
Through iconic case studies — from Augustus’s sculptural commissions and Canova’s Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker, to Mussolini’s “Operation Leonardo,” Nazi Germany’s condemnation of “degenerate art,” and the CIA’s Cold War promotion of Abstract Expressionism — the documentary unveils the evolving role of the artist: from court propagandist to critical dissenter.
With voices from international scholars and artists including Martin Kemp, Francesco Vezzoli, Fabrice D’Almeida, Jim Fitzpatrick, and Karole P. B. Vail, the film highlights how propaganda can infiltrate even the most celebrated artworks. Filmed across Rome, Venice, Paris, London, Berlin, and New York, it features exclusive footage from major museums and exhibitions.
Today, in the age of Banksy and global street art, propaganda takes new forms and escapes institutional control — but its power still depends on one essential ingredient: the public’s gaze. As the filmmakers argue, uncovering propaganda means understanding the values we accept as natural — even when they confirm what we already believe.
