Two Standing Men 1609 - 1675

Micco Spadaro, or Domenico Gargiulo, sketched these two figures with pen and brown ink. Note the prominent display of swords, more than mere tools of combat, they embody power, honor, and status, harking back to ancient symbols of authority. Consider, too, the wide-brimmed hats. The hat, a simple piece of apparel, becomes a statement of identity, shielding the wearer while projecting an image. Across cultures and times, headwear denotes rank, trade, or affiliation, yet here, they suggest something more. Such attire echoes through history, appearing on the figures of commedia dell'arte. These tropes speak to our collective memory, triggering subconscious recognition of familiar archetypes. The repetition of these symbols, while shifting in form and context, allows the artist to tap into a deep well of shared human experience, where images resonate with our innermost emotions and psychological states. This cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing and evolving, highlights the fascinating continuity of human expression.