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PICTORIAL STORY

April 13, 2023

PEOPLE OF THE LAND

THE EARTH'S SWEAT

Photography and story by Paolo Ricca
Introduction by Melanie Meggs

Paolo Ricca's photography stands out for its ability to capture the poetry of everyday life and tell stories with a documentary and artistic value. Paolo embarks on a journey to discover a territory that is close to his heart - the forgotten, rural landscapes of life. He captures the profound beauty and wisdom of people who live off the land, a reminder of his own childhood spent in his grandfather's countryside. Through his photographs, Paolo strives to communicate the spirit of humility and determination that is rooted in the land, an ode to a value that needs respect and appreciation. His images portray a unique and vivid portrait of urban and peripheral life, without any filters or artificial light. He captures the subtle nuances of human emotion, from the fatigue and tears to the joy and satisfaction of a job well done. By using natural light and primary colors, Paolo’s art reflects an honest portrayal of life as it is, a celebration of its beauty and courage.

PAOLO RICCA

White streets, covered with stones and gravel, shabby, rusty and half-open gates, right there, alongside the most chaotic arteries of the capital, seem to announce an unexpected guest.

The infinite perspective of the orchards, the splendor of the newly turned clods in the fields, the clock that slows down and the time that suddenly seems to turn back. So, in the midst of the frenetic paths of globalization, start my journey through the unexpected and extraordinary discovery of a territory that is always present and close, a precious past that has never left me after all. By bringing the lens closer to the people who live the earth and respect it deeply, I immerse myself in the memory of the weekends spent in contact with it when, on a small piece of land owned by my grandfather, I lived intense and lively moments of my childhood.

Today, like yesterday, in the hardness of the fields I find marked faces and small wrinkles, passion and sacrifices full of light. Indelible moments spent in contact with the earth, the anecdotes told by my grandparents and what then seemed to me like an incomprehensible melancholy at the end of each weekend. The bitter cold, the sun that burns, the humidity that sticks to clothes and penetrates inside, to the bone. The back is always bent, a bow and then another, once again, a dance that does not allow
interruptions or complaints. Gestures and customs of distant days, yet so close to my tomorrow. Today I relive stories of humility and determination, wisdom in my hands and a great respect for the land, a value that deserves respect, which at times disappoints and gives tears of fatigue, but which then always returns to smile to give immense satisfaction.

The sweat of the earth, all my work revolves around admiration for this metaphor. No filter, only natural light and the poetry of primary colors, to frame the close-up portrait of a peripheral and urban fabric that is increasingly current and intense, sometimes even rough, but for this reason even more authentic. Men and women, the human being, guardian of an inestimable value, the dignity of the soul that resists and does not bend to the easy in the face of the rhythm of the seasons, the confirmation of a today that will surely know how to cultivate the roots of its future.

Paolo Ricca's photography is an invaluable reminder of the beauty and value of everyday life. From his work, we can see the drive and determination that comes from the land, and the resilience and joy of the people who live off it. Through his photographs, we are reminded of the beauty and strength of humanity, and the importance of respecting and appreciating the land that sustains us. Paolo's work speaks to our hearts and gives us a powerful glimpse into the lives of others.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author/s, and are not necessarily shared by The Pictorial List and the team.

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