Peasant with Ox and Horse c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have "Peasant with Ox and Horse" by Pellegrino dal Colle. I notice a contrast between the resting animals and the standing peasant. What statement do you think the artist is trying to make? Curator: Consider the power dynamics inherent in agricultural societies of the 18th century. The animals represent the laboring class, integral yet subjugated. What does the peasant's posture convey about his own position within that hierarchy? Editor: He looks almost as tired as the animals, as if he shares their burden. Curator: Precisely. Dal Colle may be critiquing the social structures where even those who seemingly hold power are themselves bound by systemic constraints. Does that shift your understanding? Editor: It does. I hadn’t considered the peasant’s lack of agency, but it makes the image far more compelling. Curator: It highlights the interlocked nature of oppression, a theme that still resonates today.