Three Men c. 18th century

Editor: This is "Three Men" by Francesco del Pedro at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a striking print, and the expressions are so intense, especially the man in the center. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image resonates with themes of societal exclusion. Consider the figures’ exaggerated expressions and the stark contrasts. Could this be a commentary on power dynamics, perhaps portraying the disenfranchised or marginalized within a specific historical context? What do you think their interaction reveals about social hierarchies? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn't considered it in terms of social power. Maybe the man in the middle is a leader of some kind? Curator: Perhaps, but a leader of whom? And to what end? We should ask ourselves what the historical moment in which this print was made can tell us about who was included and who was left out. Editor: Thanks, I'll definitely be thinking about that! Curator: Indeed, seeing art through that lens offers new insights.