The Problem with Rainbows

Adolfo Natalini

Adolfo Natalini (1941–2020), Sketchbook 6, Rainbow Poem and sketch, 1967. Pen on paper. DMC 2137.39.

Resta sempre insoluto il problema dell’arcobaleno
Pare que ce ne sia uno dopo la pioggia
E che dall’alto con l’aereo
Si veda tutto torna
Ma questo metterebbe in crisi tutto quelli
Che cercano la pentola d’oro 
Alle fine dell’arcobaleno


C’e sempre un arcobaleno
Al di sopra di ogni questione sulla quantità
E qualità dei suoi colori
Dopo la pioggia
Ma non dopo ogni pioggia


Il mistero dell’arcobaleno
La storia dell’arcobaleno
Il problema dell’arcobaleno

Adolfo Natalini (1941–2020), Sketchbook 6, Rainbow sketch, 1967. Pencil on paper. DMC 2137.05.

The problem of the rainbow remains unsolved 
It seems that there is one after the rain 
And that from above with the plane you can see it all around
But that would undermine all those looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

There is always a rainbow 
Above all questions of quantity 
And quality of its colours 
After the rain 
But not after every rain 

The mystery of the rainbow 
The history of the rainbow
The rainbow problem

Adolfo Natalini (1941–2020), Sketchbook 6, 1967. Sketchbook, pencil on paper. DMC 2137.09.
Adolfo Natalini (1941–2020), Sketchbook 6, Rainbow sketch, 1967. Pencil on paper. DMC 2137.34.
Adolfo Natalini (1941–2020), Sketchbook 6, Rainbow sketch, 1967. Pencil on paper. DMC 2137.27.
Adolfo Natalini (1941–2020), Sketchbook 6, Rainbow sketch, 1967. Pencil on paper. DMC 2137.11.
Adolfo Natalini (1941–2020), Sketchbook 5, Rainbow sketch, 1967. Pencil on paper. DMC 2136.09.