Preparing the Polenta 

Pietro Longhi's "Preparing the Polenta," was painted in Venice in the 1700s, using oil on canvas. This image, like many of Longhi's paintings, documents a genre scene of Venetian life. Polenta was a staple food for the poor, made from cornmeal and water, requiring constant stirring over a fire for a long time. The process demanded physical labor and time, impacting its social significance. Preparing polenta was a communal activity, as shown in the artwork. The artist illustrates not only the labor of cooking, but also the sharing of food and stories that bring people together, depicting the labor of cooking and its connection to community and cultural identity. "Preparing the Polenta" provides a window into the daily routines, social dynamics, and cultural traditions of 18th-century Venice, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by highlighting the importance of everyday materials, processes, and social context in understanding the artwork's full meaning.