Alessandra Mammì on Domestic Quarantine and Rediscovering Housework

In a letter published by Artribune, journalist and art critic Alessandra Mammì shares her experience of quarantine during Italy's coronavirus lockdown. She describes her daily routine of waking early, dressing carefully, and applying makeup despite staying home. With no domestic help, she obsessively cleans and organizes, rediscovering a homemaking instinct she had previously suppressed for ideological reasons. She finds solace in meticulous tasks like sorting overdue bills by year and type, rearranging furniture only to revert to the original layout, and dusting books and catalogs to arrange them thematically or alphabetically. She also knits sweaters for her grandson in England while watching TV series. Mammì reflects that being a woman helps her cope with the crisis, believing "andrà tutto bene" (everything will be fine). The letter is part of a series initiated by Artribune, inviting intellectuals to write short letters beginning with "Cari" (Dear) about their quarantine experiences, readings, difficulties, and discoveries. The first letter was by Antonio Mancinelli, managing editor of Marie Claire. Clara Tosi Pamphili coordinates the series.