Portrait of Madame de Nittis ("Attenzione") 1874 - 1875

Giuseppe de Nittis created this etching of his wife, Léontine, in the late 19th century. It's a study in the visual language of bourgeois domesticity at the time. De Nittis was an Italian artist who spent much of his career in Paris. He was well-connected in artistic circles, particularly with the Impressionists. Here, the loose, informal lines of the etching technique capture a sense of immediacy and intimacy, yet the social position of the sitter is clearly visible. Léontine’s dress, and the way she occupies the space, speak to her status. The title "Attenzione," meaning "attention" in Italian, suggests a staged, performative aspect to the portrait. It encourages us to see the image as more than just a record of an individual. As art historians, we can research details of the de Nittis's lives, read their letters, and consider how their position in society influenced the way they saw the world, and how they made art.