What Is It That I Am Not Seeing?

In A Roman Osteria, Carl Bloch, 19th Century (via wiki commons)

There is a fascinating painting by the 19th century Danish artist Carl Bloch that every creative writing workshop could use as a writing prompt to help or inspire students kick-start a story. It is called ‘In A Roman Osteria’. It seems very simple at first glance, just an ordinary everyday s…