Girl praying 

Joan Brull painted this portrait of a girl praying in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The image presents us with the subject of childhood piety but the cultural significance of this picture lies in how it invokes the values of the family and its social role in instilling religious faith. Painted in Spain at a time of political instability, the image speaks to the conservative values that Brull seemed to embrace in his life and work. During this period the church still exerted a considerable influence on Spanish life. If we want to appreciate what this painting meant to its original audience, we need to look into the history of religious education in Spain, and the part played by images in promoting particular values. Only then can we really understand the politics of this imagery.