Iași Square (Food Row) 1918

Nicolae Darascu captured a bustling scene in Iași Square with oil on canvas. Darascu, born in 1883, lived through a period of intense social and political change in Romania. Darascu often painted landscapes and cityscapes, and this work offers a glimpse into daily life in Iași. The figures, rendered with thick brushstrokes, are a mix of genders and classes, their clothing suggesting different social strata. Note the women, some in traditional headscarves, their presence speaks to the roles of women in Romanian society at the time, as keepers of tradition, as well as active participants in the economy. Darascu’s impressionistic style softens the edges of reality, inviting us to reflect on the collective experience of community. It's a reminder of how public spaces foster encounters between people from diverse backgrounds.