The Reading

The reading, also known as Politicians or Men reading, shows a group of men reading a book, or maybe a newspaper or magazine, that the man in the middle has on his lap. One of them is probably reading aloud, some of the men seem to be reading along, others are merely listening.

We cannot see what the men are reading. The men are generally considered to be politicians, reading a newspaper (an article about themselves?), but it is unclear where this explanation originated.

The reading probably formed a pair with Two women and a man.

The reading is on display in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.