II Quarto Stato *

Giuseppe Pellizza's painting of workers (II Quarto Stato, 1900) is one of the most important icons of the labor movement in Italy. As the last in a series of four images painted by the artist during the turbulent 1890s, Il Quarto Stato reflects cumulative conceptual and stylistic variations on the theme of class struggle. It can be viewed as a stylized representation of the dynamics of collective action. At the same time, the painting continues to engage the beholder in a dialog about esthetics, politics and history. Pellizza's suggestive composition also invites reflection on the relation between artistic expression and critical reception. In this connection, another painting is examined, which represents Il Quarto Stato in its present-day setting.