Commerce (El Comercio)

The scene representing commerce is an everyday one. It shows what seems to be an oriental shop, as if Goya had wished to represent trade on a grand scale with faraway countries. Illuminated by the light which filters through the window on the right, two men (one of whom is wearing a turban) are writing at a table. Under the table, we can seem some sacks, while in the foreground there is a stork, an animal which accompanied depictions of commerce, according to Ripa and Badouin, since these birds help each other, just as trade requires the mutual trust and support of the different parties.

This composition is the most original of the three, since the scheme of triangular planes distinguished by lighting is not repeated; rather, the focus is on the commercial activity being carried out at the table, leaving the rest of the scene in the dark without giving it much importance. In the background we can make out another desk where a man and a woman are leafing through a book.

For more information on the whole series, see Agriculture.