Seated Elder and Two Other Figures 1656 - 1658

Editor: So, this is Salvator Rosa’s "Seated Elder and Two Other Figures," a pen and brown ink drawing. It feels almost like a stage—three figures in this earthy setting. What do you make of it? Curator: Rosa often depicted the marginalized in society, challenging the idealized representations of the time. The elder’s weary pose and simple clothing, juxtaposed with the rugged landscape, speaks to the resilience and perhaps the precarity of life for those existing outside the societal mainstream. Do you see that reflected in the other figures? Editor: I do, the other figures seem to be looking to the elder for guidance. Thanks for helping me think about it in that context! Curator: Of course! It's vital to consider the power dynamics at play within the image, and Rosa's engagement with those dynamics in 17th-century Italy.