Game of Cards c. 18th century

Curator: This print, "Game of Cards" by Francesco del Pedro, really captures a specific kind of masculine leisure. It feels almost staged, doesn't it? Editor: It does. It’s like a snapshot of a moment, but also a little posed. What strikes you most about its depiction of leisure? Curator: I think about who has access to leisure, and what that means in terms of class and gender. Gambling, especially, becomes a space for men to perform certain roles. What kind of power dynamics might be at play here? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered it beyond the surface level of just a casual game. Curator: Exactly, seeing it through that lens makes the piece so much richer. I'll keep that in mind moving forward! Editor: Me too! Thanks for helping me consider those dynamics.