Two Men and a Woman Gathering Fruit in a Wood c. 18th century

Curator: Marco Ricci’s etching, titled "Two Men and a Woman Gathering Fruit in a Wood," immediately strikes me as a scene steeped in tradition. Editor: I see a somewhat bleak depiction of labor. The figures seem burdened, not idealized. Is this a commentary on the economic realities of the time? Curator: It could be argued. Ricci often engaged with the pastoral tradition, but he also lived in a time of social and political upheaval. The act of harvesting fruit might symbolize sustenance, but also the exploitation inherent in labor practices. Editor: And the fruit itself? It appears quite small in the etching, almost insignificant. Perhaps it symbolizes the meager rewards of hard work, a continuous cycle of labor with little return. Curator: I find your interpretation compelling. Ricci, working around 1700 to 1730, clearly uses the visual language of his time, but layers in a critical perspective on class and the value of human labor. Editor: Indeed. This work offers a stark reminder of the socio-economic conditions shaping the lives of many during that era.