Samba 1945

Anita Malfatti made this painting "Samba" with what looks like an abundance of ochre, sienna, and burnt umber pigments! I imagine her working quickly, layering warm tones to evoke the energy of a samba. You can almost feel the heat radiating off the canvas. I sympathize with Malfatti, wrestling with the challenge of capturing movement and sound in still form. I think she might have been thinking about how to make a painting sing. The paint seems thinly applied, almost like a wash, with gestural marks suggesting figures in motion. See that dancer with her arms raised? It’s like a shorthand for joy. Malfatti was part of a generation of artists who were challenging academic traditions and exploring new forms of expression. Like her contemporaries, she sought to capture the raw, unfiltered energy of life around her, and she has certainly done that here. Artists are always looking at each other, borrowing, and riffing off ideas. Painting is not about answers. It’s about a space of conversation, and Malfatti opened it up beautifully.