Barcas 1922

Raquel Forner made this painting called 'Barcas', meaning boats, using oil on canvas. The painting depicts two boats beached on land. The image creates meaning through its use of visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Forner was an Argentinian artist who lived through times of political turmoil and social change. Consider how specific features of that culture, such as geography, historical events, social class, political movements, or economic structures might have influenced the artwork. As art historians, we examine the socio-political, economic, and cultural forces in which art is made. Primary sources like letters or journals as well as secondary criticism help us understand art’s meaning as something contingent on its social and institutional context.