The Child Carburetor 1919

Francis Picabia’s ‘The Child Carburetor’ is made with industrial enamel and metallic paint on wood. Picabia was fascinated by machines and their power, and how that power related to human desire. Here, the industrial materials and processes reflect the machine age. The smooth, hard surface of the wood, combined with the flat, graphic quality of the enamel, evoke the precision and efficiency of mass production. The metallic paint adds a touch of glamour, suggesting the seductive allure of technology. The imagery, which depicts machine parts, shows how the modern world, dominated by machines and industry, redefines relationships between man, labor, and consumption. The smooth, impersonal finish, devoid of visible brushstrokes or artistic flourishes, suggests a society where human labor is increasingly replaced by machines. Picabia challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, using industrial materials to create a work that is both visually striking and socially relevant. By embracing the materials and processes of the machine age, he invites us to consider the impact of technology on our lives and values.