with love, in a roman osteria

In a season defined by community and good company thanks to Chanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years Eve, I thought that this painting was perfect for the month of December.

Carl Bloch, ’In a roman Osteria’ (1866)

An oil in canvas painting by Danish painter Carl Bloch (1834-1890).
I’ve always found this painting to be comical and humorous as well as fascinating and captivating because what are YOU looking at?

Were they interrupted by something or someone? If so, then I would react the same way as the man if I was interrupted or disturbed while I’m eating a delicious meal of bread and salad. The audacity. Why is the woman wearing a napkin on her head? Maybe their annoyance of me is thanks to me staring at her. Her expression seems to me as if she’s used to the looks she gets but her, I assume, brother is in defense mode, ready to pull out that knife. But can you blame me? Don’t look at me like that, look at your damn self.

Carl Bloch’s attention to details are so attractive to me. Napkin-womans blue skirt seems like it would feel incredible to the touch. It must be china silk fabric. The flies that are already pissing me of, the slightly soiled tablecloth, the wine decanter that looks so delicious and makes me want to go back to my destructive relationship with alcohol and the different facial expressions portraying different emotions in every person.

The colors used in this painting are perfect! They work together in the most exquisite way possible. Not too bold and not too muted but bright enough to catch your attention.

It also reminds me of my visit to Rome in January 2018 and the stares I would get. Most of them not pleasant and they were never shy of displaying their dislike of my presence. Maybe that’s why they’re staring at me like this? Perhaps I’m the odd one. At least one of them doesn’t have an issue with me.

If you wish to learn more: Art Deco – This provocative painting went too far
Other paintings I’ve written about: Lover of art
The fallen angel
The lunatic of Etretat
The execution of Lady Jane Grey
Judith beheading Holofernes