about the cover illustration

The image featured on the cover of this book is called “Mařaťanka” by Joža Uprka (1861–1940), a Czech painter renowned for his vivid portrayals of folk life in southern Moravia, a historic wine-growing region in the Czech Republic. The painting depicts a young woman from the village of Mařatice, whose name echoes the ancient designation “sons of Maria” for its inhabitants. Dressed in a traditional local costume, she carries a tray of grapes and fruit aloft, embodying the spirit of harvest, abundance, and the enduring rhythm of historical rural life. It is a celebration of shared European traditions rooted in the land, the seasons, and community rituals. Like wine itself, these themes transcend borders and bring people together, mirroring the Czecho-Italian nature of the co-authoring team.