In winter 

Niccolo Cannicci painted this scene of rural labour in Italy sometime during his career in the late 19th century. It offers us a snapshot into the harsh realities of agrarian life. The muted palette and heavy brushstrokes evoke the chill of winter, while the figures trudge through the snow, highlighting the constant labour demanded by agricultural life. The contrast between the wealthy landowners depicted in grand salon paintings and the everyday struggles represented here is stark. This artistic choice could be seen as a commentary on the social inequalities of the time. Cannicci was part of a generation of artists who turned away from idealized academic painting. To understand Cannicci's place, you might look at the emergence of social realism in European painting. You could consider the influence of artistic academies, and the changing role of art in reflecting the lives of ordinary people. Art, as this painting reminds us, is always embedded in a particular social and institutional context.