Dama 1967

Enrico Baj assembled "Dama" from a variety of materials that create an otherworldly form. This image invites us to consider how visual codes create meaning. Baj was an Italian artist working in the postwar period. The visual language of his time was shaped by the trauma of war and the rapid rise of consumer culture. His use of found objects and mechanical imagery in the series reflects the anxieties around technology and the dehumanizing aspects of modern life, while the title "Dama" which means 'Dame' in Italian, suggests a satire of traditional portraiture. The reference to a noblewoman critiques the traditional art establishment and its conservative values. Historical research into the artistic manifestos and political movements of the time provides a more nuanced understanding of Baj's work and its significance as social critique. Ultimately, the meaning of this work emerges from its engagement with the social and institutional context.