Anthropophagy 1929

Editor: We are looking at Tarsila do Amaral's "Anthropophagy" from 1929, an oil painting with a very distinctive style. The figure is so… monumental, almost surreal in this landscape. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Tarsila’s “Anthropophagy” is deeply rooted in the cultural and political landscape of 1920s Brazil. The painting’s title refers to a concept developed by Oswald de Andrade, Tarsila’s then-husband. Editor: Anthropophagy, meaning "cannibalism," right? Curator: Exactly! But in this context, it was a call for Brazilians to "devour" or absorb outside influences, European primarily, but transform them and create something uniquely Brazilian. The large, abstracted figure represents this act of cultural digestion. Think about Brazil at the time - forging a national identity amidst colonial legacies. Editor: So, the figure isn’t literally cannibalistic, but more like… metaphorically? Curator: Precisely. Note the flattened forms, bold colors, and the dream-like landscape. These are all visual cues referencing modernism, yet distinctly filtered through a Brazilian lens. The landscape speaks to local vegetation like cacti and banana trees. Do you notice any influences that point towards specific politics of the time? Editor: The size difference of the figure, and the flatness of it all, remind me of folk art. Was this to make the painting accessible to a wide public? Curator: You are absolutely right; that would echo the calls to construct popular art and a nationalist aesthetic that engages all classes, promoting inclusivity within national identity building. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider how "consuming" foreign influence can actually create a unique identity. Thanks for that insight! Curator: My pleasure! This work pushes us to think about the complex ways that art and politics are always entwined.