Group of Figures c. 18th century

Curator: Stefano Mulinari, active in Florence during the late 18th century, created this etching, called simply, "Group of Figures." Editor: It has a rather somber mood, doesn't it? Like figures from a dream, caught in perpetual movement. Curator: Perhaps. I see a woman carrying what looks like firewood. It could be a classical reference, maybe something allegorical. Editor: Allegorical? They strike me as ordinary people, draped in heavy fabrics, maybe on their way to a market. The textures look so tactile. Curator: There's a timeless quality to the piece. Mulinari captures something fundamental about human interaction and purpose, wouldn't you say? Editor: Maybe. Or perhaps he's just really good at drawing folds in cloth. But I can definitely see the appeal, a sense of quiet dignity.