Man carrying a heavy burden on his back 1548 - 1628

Jacopo Palma, also known as Il Giovane, created this drawing of a man carrying a heavy burden in pen and brown ink. Palma was working in Venice during a time of significant social stratification. The burden the figure carries could be interpreted as a representation of the physical labor expected from the lower classes to support Venetian society. This physical strain, etched into the muscular form of the man, speaks to the economic disparities of the time. We might consider how the artist's own social standing influenced his portrayal of labor. Is this an empathetic depiction, or does it perpetuate a narrative of the working class as beasts of burden? The lack of individual features encourages us to see the figure not as an individual, but as a representation of a broader social class. Think about the burdens you carry, both literal and figurative. How do these burdens shape your identity and your place in the world?