An isolated figure in the local scene, Alberto Martini is among the greatest interpreters in Italy of the Symbolist language, which he declines in an original key in the correlation between art and literature, favoring the graphic medium.

Born in Oderzo, in the province of Treviso, in 1876, Martini embarked on an early artistic career, showing a marked predilection for drawing. Initiating him into the study from life and copying was his father Giorgio, a painter and professor of drawing (in 1905 he would be Arturo Martini's teacher at the Evening School of Arts and Crafts in Treviso).

He made his debut in the field of illustration of literary works (such as Tassoni's La secchia rapita), in which he distinguished himself by his subtle and meticulous stroke, close to German graphics. 

In his early twenties, he exhibited some drawings characterized by social themes (such as Poema del lavoro) at the Venice Biennial and at the Turin Promotrice Society: his works were noticed by Vittorio Pica, who would be one of his greatest supporters from then on.

Important trips to European capitals completed his training: in 1898 he stayed in Munich, where he came into contact with examples of Jugendstijl and collaborated as an illustrator on the magazines Decorative Kunst and Jugend; in the early twentieth century he traveled to Paris and London, to which he would return on several occasions, maintaining multiple international relationships throughout his exhibition activities.