Standing Italian Woman. Study for A Goatherd Selling Milk c. 1840

Wilhelm Marstrand created this oil on canvas painting of a standing Italian woman, employing traditional fine art materials. The rich pigments and smooth application exemplify the traditions of academic painting, a world away from the labor of the goatherd selling milk, which was the subject of Marstrand’s larger painting, and of which this is a study. The woman's clothing seems romanticized, perhaps reflecting a desire to elevate the mundane aspects of working-class life to something more poetic and timeless. This idealized representation contrasts starkly with the realities of labor and class. Marstrand may not have directly addressed the social issues of his time. However, by focusing on the figure of a working woman, he offers us a glimpse into the lives of those often overlooked in the art historical canon. It reminds us to consider the social context in which artworks are created.