Young sellers 

Antonio Paoletti painted "Young Sellers," capturing a street scene in Venice, a city undergoing significant changes in the late 19th century due to industrialization and tourism. Paoletti situates a well-dressed woman and her children negotiating with a young boy selling produce from a boat. The artist evokes an emotional landscape that explores themes of labor, class, and the performative aspects of everyday life. While the painting romanticizes Venice, we must remember the historical context of child labor and economic disparities that shaped the lives of many Venetians. Paoletti captures a fleeting moment of interaction, yet it invites us to consider the broader social dynamics at play. The work reflects how identity and social roles are intertwined in a specific time and place.