Woman Reading 

Alfred Stevens made this drawing, titled "Woman Reading", using graphite on paper. Stevens lived through a time of significant social change. The role of women in society was being questioned. What is she reading? Is it a novel that transports her to another world, or perhaps something more serious and educational? The act of reading was becoming increasingly associated with self-improvement and intellectual growth, something that was not always encouraged for women during this period. Look at the woman’s attire; it seems to indicate that she may be a servant, or perhaps of lower social standing. "Art is not made to be exclusively visual. It should speak to the soul" Stevens once said. While the image appears simple, it is charged with social commentary. It allows us to reflect on what it meant for women of different social classes to gain access to literature and education. How did this shift impact their sense of self and their place in the world?