| Description: | This arpillera returns to the classical pre-political tradition and depicts daily life under the Osorno Volcano in the Los Lagos region of Chile. As with the earlier pre-political arpilleras of the late 1960s, rural life is represented as simple and idyllic. Under a bright sun, farmers are tilling their crops and neighbours are chatting. A letter concealed in a pocket on the reverse side of the arpillera, reinforces this rural idyll: “See how beautiful our volcanoes are! I invite you to visit them” This contrasts starkly with the political messages of the arpilleras that followed this work and tempts one to ascribe political meaning here, where none exists.
Overall, this arpillera represents a move towards commercialism in the arpillera style. In returning to the pre-political tradition, it connects past, present and future and illustrates the power and scope of arpilleras to reflect daily life, political or otherwise.
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