Montale impressionista: Barche sulla Marna

This article analyses the extent to which Montale was influenced by Impressionist painting in his poem "Barche sulla Marna" following a sojourn in Paris. It also pinpoints the Sunday setting of the poem to July 1933, while at the same time providing insight into the second person 'tu' evoked in the final lines. Lastly, the article reveals for the first time how the incipit echoes an image which Renoir used to exemplify his theories of painting, i. e. that he would surrender to his artistic inspiration like a small cork carried away by the current.