Lente Possibly 1790 - 1799

Francesco Bartolozzi created this stipple engraving titled "Spring" in 1785, a period marked by significant social stratification and evolving ideals of femininity. This image presents us with a young girl, adorned in the elaborate fashion of the time, gazing upward with a hopeful expression. The print reflects the cultural emphasis on innocence and beauty as primary attributes of women. Yet, her direct gaze breaks with the trope of passive femininity so common at the time. Consider how the image, in its depiction of youthful beauty and the natural world, may have served to both uphold and gently subvert the period's rigid social expectations. It invites us to think about the complex ways in which art can shape our understanding of identity. The girl’s expression suggests a longing for something beyond her immediate surroundings. In that longing, are we seeing a reflection of the societal constraints placed upon her?