Young Girl Before The Lagoon, Venice 

Eugen von Blaas made this painting of a young woman, perhaps in the late 19th century, using oil paint on canvas. At first glance, this seems a straightforward genre scene, of a woman at her leisure. But it asks us to consider the relationship between labor and representation. Note that the woman is engaged in the process of making lace. This highly skilled work was a crucial part of the Venetian economy. The floating city was once famous for its production of luxury goods, and lace was among the most prized. The artist is making an appeal here: he’s saying that the real beauty of Venice is not just in its monuments, but in the skills of its people, passed down through generations. It’s a beauty that is earned. By depicting the young woman in the act of creation, von Blaas elevates the status of craft. He invites us to consider the value of skilled labor in the face of increasing industrialization.