Vintage 

Vintage was painted by Niko Pirosmani, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, on oilcloth, a cheap and readily available material. It shows a traditional Georgian harvest festival. Pirosmani was a self-taught artist, and his work offers a unique insight into the social life of Georgia at a time of great change. Note how Pirosmani depicts the communal nature of the vintage, with families working together to harvest grapes and make wine. Wine-making has a long tradition in Georgia, deeply woven into the social fabric, and it is still an important part of Georgian identity. The painting also shows how the vintage was a time of celebration, with music, dancing, and feasting. Pirosmani's paintings weren't made for galleries or museums, but for taverns and shops, which served as public spaces. Art historians can study archival photographs, historical accounts, and other cultural records to better understand the social and institutional context in which Pirosmani's work emerged. This helps us recognize art's power to reflect and shape social realities.