The feast of four citizens 

Editor: Here we have "The Feast of Four Citizens" by Niko Pirosmani. The subjects seem serious, even austere, despite the lavish spread before them. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a profound statement on Georgian identity, tradition, and perhaps, even class. Pirosmani often depicted scenes of feasting, but these weren't just casual depictions. The gatherings shown were often fraught with political and social tensions. Consider the men’s traditional attire; how might clothing be performing a certain ideal here? Editor: They all look similar but definitely are very different people! So it speaks to more than just an aesthetic choice, it communicates who they are? Curator: Exactly! These banquets were social stages, carefully constructed displays of power and status, often reinforcing existing social hierarchies while seemingly promoting ideals of commonality or a national character. The faces are distinctive, yet rendered with Pirosmani's signature flattening of perspective, placing each figure almost on the same plane. It almost suggests a forced collectivity... but the tension can't be removed! Editor: I didn’t even pick up on any possible tension...It seemed like they are enjoying a meal! Curator: And the food? The overloaded table. Feasting and lavish display weren't just about enjoyment, they served a crucial role in constructing this vision of national and cultural abundance. Are we truly sharing this bounty, or just flaunting it? The history of class struggle and food as spectacle is huge. The single boy almost off to the left further creates contrast, don't you think? Editor: I suppose the question becomes who is invited to the feast, literally and figuratively. Curator: Precisely! Editor: This makes me view Pirosmani's work with a more critical eye. I definitely learned to look beyond the surface-level depiction of tradition! Curator: And hopefully consider the wider sociopolitical environment in which these artworks and feasts are occurring.