The Family of the oriental Peasant, from the Scherzi 1725 - 1780

Editor: This is "The Family of the Oriental Peasant, from the Scherzi," an etching by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, created sometime between 1725 and 1780. I find the scene quite dreamlike; what strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Immediately, my eye is drawn to the owl perched above the family. The owl, traditionally a symbol of wisdom, but also associated with darkness and the nocturnal, lends a layer of mystery. It observes, much like we, the viewers, are invited to observe. Do you notice the ambiguous expressions on the faces of the figures? Editor: Yes, there's a sense of melancholy, or perhaps just weariness. They seem caught between worlds. Is that ox there too, observing them? Curator: Precisely! The ox shares a silent gaze. Note how Tiepolo uses animals here – not as mere decorations but as symbols intertwined with the human narrative. The owl as nocturnal wisdom, the ox, possibly related to ancient gods or more rural roots. Does this spark anything within you? Editor: I suppose it shows a blending of cultural ideas, an 'Oriental' peasant family seen through a European, almost theatrical, lens, with added classical imagery in the animals. Curator: Precisely! The "Oriental" label itself is revealing, pointing to European fascinations with the East, filtered and romanticized. How do these observations impact your initial sense of the work? Editor: It feels more complex now. Not just a quiet scene, but a statement about cultural perspectives, symbols and perhaps the idealised life too. Curator: Indeed! Tiepolo encourages us to look beyond the surface and contemplate the multiple layers of meaning embedded within this seemingly simple family portrait.