Kop van een oude man met baard 1765

This etching, titled 'May', was crafted by Antonio Giuseppe Barbazza in the 18th century. At first glance, the scene depicts an idealized vision of spring in a formal garden. But let’s consider the social context of the artist and the work. Barbazza was active in Venice, a city known for its rigid class structure. The print seems to cater to the tastes of the elite, with its elegant figures and manicured landscape. Yet, there's a tension here, isn’t there? The figures are engaged in leisurely activities, while other more puzzling characters seem to be begging or working, in a way that exposes the artificiality of their world. The presence of the statue of a nude man, as well, reminds us of the ways in which representations of the body were controlled and regulated during this period. Barbazza's 'May' invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, class, and identity in 18th-century Venice.