Waiting 1894

Silvestro Lega painted "Waiting," sometime in the late 19th century, likely with oil on canvas. It depicts a woman gazing out of a window. The painting embodies a moment of quiet contemplation, but it also invites us to consider the social position of women during the Italian Risorgimento. Painted in Italy, this work uses visual codes to suggest a cultural emphasis on domesticity. The woman is confined indoors, her attention directed outwards, perhaps hinting at a longing for experiences beyond the domestic sphere. Consider how the Italian social context might have influenced the artwork. What was the role of women? What were their social, political and economic opportunities? Was Lega attempting to challenge conventional social norms? To fully understand this artwork, we need to look at the social history of 19th-century Italy, researching the lives of women, and investigating the art institutions that shaped artists like Lega. The meaning of art lies not only in its aesthetic qualities, but also in its social and institutional contexts.