Paesaggio Con Passero E Casolare 1933

Filippo De Pisis painted this landscape with oil, probably sometime in the 1940s. At first glance, it depicts an idyllic Italian scene with a bird, house, and trees. But the sombre palette tells a different story. De Pisis was an Italian artist whose life and work were deeply affected by the social and political turmoil of the 20th century. The Fascist government, led by Mussolini, controlled artistic expression through institutions such as the Ministry of Popular Culture. Artists who did not conform to the regime's aesthetic preferences were often excluded from exhibitions and commissions. This landscape can be seen as a subtle form of resistance against the dominant culture, using a subdued style to convey a sense of unease and alienation. To better understand De Pisis, we can look at the history of Italian art institutions during the Fascist era, exploring the ways in which artists navigated the complex political landscape. Art is contingent on social context.