Per Diem 

Curator: I'd like to draw our attention to a painting attributed to Leonardo Alenza, titled "Per Diem." Editor: The first impression I get is somber. It's a dimly lit scene, almost cloaked in shadow, lending a real sense of weight to the figures. Curator: Indeed. It’s fascinating how Alenza employs light to define the social dynamic depicted here. Notice how the illumination strategically emphasizes certain figures— a religious official, the needy—casting others into obscurity. Consider the time it was created, artists wanted to convey a message about social classes, which directly questioned religious orders in place. Editor: The chiaroscuro is certainly striking. The artist guides the eye, moving between these pools of light. It's almost theatrical in its drama. What is the scene here and how are we intended to perceive it? Curator: We’re witnessing what appears to be the distribution of alms, hence the title “Per Diem,” alluding to daily allowances. The act underscores a hierarchical exchange between the church, represented by a dignified official, and the impoverished, portrayed through tattered clothes and somber expressions. Editor: The brushwork is loose, almost hurried, and the earthen palette makes the overall impression bleak and melancholic. I note how some forms fade away to nothing. It gives the image an air of urgency, but there's certainly not any strong attention to any realistic scene with vibrant colors. The work almost borders caricature. Curator: Alenza’s choice of style underscores a critique that questions charitable distribution as social solution, a system sustained by institutional powers, not by a revolutionary desire for the less fortunate to succeed and advance through means of production. Alenza wanted to shed a critical light on social inequity. Editor: In conclusion, what do you feel is most crucial for viewers to understand when looking at this specific painting? Curator: Alenza’s 'Per Diem' doesn't merely portray an everyday scene, but is imbued with commentary that challenges social responsibilities, as well as power structures that shaped it. Editor: And, by looking past the subdued coloration, we see an impactful organization that allows light and shadow to build layers of complexity. The human element is emphasized through contrasts within both palette and representation.