Curatorial notes
Editor: Achille D'Orsi’s bronze sculpture, “Parasites,” created in 1877, certainly provokes a strong emotional response. The seated figure has such a downcast presence and seems completely weighed down by the reclining figure next to them. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This sculpture acts as a potent commentary on power dynamics and exploitation in 19th-century Italian society. The "parasites" are not literal insects, but rather a commentary on the Bourgeoisie. We see the one figure leeching off of another for survival and support, reflecting broader anxieties about social class and wealth disparity following Italy's unification. D’Orsi highlights the unequal power relationship through their body language. What do you make of the textures in contrast to the somber mood? Editor: The contrast is striking. The smoothness of the reclining figure accentuates their idleness, almost as if they are unbothered. While the deep textures and lines of the seated figure give them a strong and defined visual look to represent hardship. Curator: Absolutely. Consider also how the piece challenges traditional academic sculptures, which often celebrated heroism and idealized beauty. D’Orsi instead depicts a stark, unflinching reality, exposing social injustices that many preferred to ignore. By looking so deeply into class structures, does this sculpture give you an interesting intersectional perspective? Editor: It does! It’s incredible to consider that it was made in the late 1870s, yet it still speaks so clearly to issues of inequality today. It’s hard to look at and not think about current societal struggles. Curator: Indeed. It pushes us to question whose stories are being told and whose are being silenced, not just in art but in society as a whole. It’s a stark reminder that art can serve as a powerful tool for social critique. Editor: I'll definitely view 19th century art through a different, more critical lens from now on.