Thinking Of Him 

Hans Zatzka created the oil on canvas painting 'Thinking Of Him.' Made by an artist born into the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this painting belongs to a tradition of sentimental figuration which often idealizes women and romantic love. The woman, adorned in an elaborate dress and hat, sits pensively on a bench, perhaps contemplating a distant lover. A cupid offering her a flower suggests the innocent, pure nature of her affections. Yet, we might also consider the social position of the woman herself. Was she free to choose her own partner, or was she subject to the expectations of family and society? In Zatzka's time, women's lives were often circumscribed by rigid social norms. This painting, while seemingly celebrating romance, could also be seen as reflecting the limited agency afforded to women in matters of the heart. The beauty and idealized love in this painting serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in historical representations of women.