The Sewing Lesson (aka The Artist's Daughter, Julie, with Her Nanny) 1884

Berthe Morisot, a French painter, captured this intimate scene of her daughter and nanny, likely in the late 19th century, using oil on canvas. The domestic setting offers a glimpse into the world of bourgeois women and the rituals that shaped their lives. Morisot, as a female Impressionist, uniquely portrays the social structures of her time. Consider how women's roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere, and skills like sewing were seen as essential accomplishments. Here, we can see how the passing down of such skills was part of the cultural education. This image creates meaning through visual codes relating to domesticity, cultural references to traditional skills, and historical associations with the lives of women. Historians can use sources such as letters, diaries, and household accounts to explore the artwork's social context. Understanding the meaning of art relies on a deep appreciation of its contingent social and institutional context.