Marmaglia 2007

Enzo Cucchi made this small painting called "Marmaglia" with an unknown medium on canvas and with dimensions of 30 by 40 cm. The title translates roughly as “mob” or “rabble,” and here Cucchi presents us with a vision of a town beset by flying skulls. Cucchi was a leading figure in the Italian Transavantgarde movement of the 1980s, a moment when painting returned to symbolism and mythic imagery. His work reflects the cultural context of Italy, marked by its rich history but also by the social and political upheavals of the time. Here the skulls may represent the threat of death that looms over society. Red streaks rain down towards the buildings which could symbolize the effect on the Italian infrastructure of the Red Brigades terrorist campaign from the 70's to the 80's. To understand this work fully, we might delve into the archives of Italian art criticism, political history, and popular culture from the late 20th century. Through such research, we can better understand the anxieties and aspirations that Cucchi captured on canvas. Art is contingent on social and institutional context.