La mesa de Rancagua

A dear friend of Pablo Neruda, Carreño’s iconic female figures by the sea were inspired by the figureheads at the poet's house. Of Cuban origin, Carreño (1913-1999) travelled across Europe, passed through Mexico, and lived in New York for 10 years until he settled permanently in Chile in 1958. It was here that he developed most of his artistic career, marked by a unique visual style that combines cubist elements, surrealist scenes, and the influences of Mexican muralism. The human figure plays a central role in his work, often accompanied by architectural structures reminiscent of Italy, or tables with modernist fruit bowls offering citrus, apples, and watermelons.
Made shortly after his 'Objects on the Table' series, "La mesa de Rancagua" ('The Rancagua Table') condenses several of Carreño's characteristic elements. The fruits—possibly alluding to the agrarian character of the commune of Rancagua, in central Chile—are presented on the table in an orderly fashion, in dialogue with furniture that clearly alludes to the metaphysical painting of Giorgio de Chirico, who directly influenced Carreño.