Le acciughe 1948

"Le acciughe," or "The Anchovies," was painted in 1942 by Carlo Carrà. It's a still life, of course, and it presents a very gendered scene of domesticity. Carrà was part of the Futurist movement, which was infatuated with speed, technology and a rejection of the past. However, by the time he painted this, he had moved away from Futurism, towards a more traditional style. In the 1920s, he developed a style he called "Valori Plastici," emphasizing clarity, order, and a return to classical artistic values. What does it mean to embrace tradition? Here, the anchovies and the lemon are arranged in an intimate setting. Anchovies would be food for the working class, humble and everyday. They offer a quiet reflection on the simple moments in life. In a world that was rapidly changing, and at war, Carrà seems to be offering a moment of peace, a connection to simpler times.