The Tramp 1810

Curator: This etching, known as "The Tramp," comes from the hand of Bartolomeo Pinelli, who was born in Rome in 1781. It's currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It makes me think of an old ballad, a folk song of hardship. Editor: He looks weighed down, doesn't he? But there's also a sense of forward motion, of purpose. That round object on his back, and the pan—they’re almost like instruments of survival. Curator: Absolutely. Pinelli often depicted the lives of the Roman working class. The tramp’s attire and tools aren't just objects; they symbolize resilience and the burden of labor. We might see echoes of classical figures, recast in everyday struggle. Editor: I love how the landscape feels both desolate and somehow promising. It's a beautifully stark portrayal, and it captures something essential about the human spirit. Curator: Indeed. Pinelli gives us a glimpse into a world where dignity and hardship walk hand in hand. Editor: It feels so real.