The poetry reading 

Vittorio Reggianini made this painting, “The Poetry Reading”, presumably in the late 19th or early 20th century, with oil paint on canvas. Reggianini was clearly expert in his control of the medium, able to convincingly render the fall of light across the silks worn by the figures in the painting. But it's worth asking, what else is going on here? The very fact that the work celebrates conspicuous consumption makes it a fascinating artifact. The clothing worn by the figures, their furniture, and even the neoclassical sculptural details of the room, all speak to the material aspirations of the bourgeoisie. Reggianini was also working during a time of major social change, and it is interesting to consider whether “The Poetry Reading” should be read as a straightforward celebration of middle-class success, or whether there is also an element of critique or satire embedded in the work. Thinking about the processes of production, labor and class helps us to understand its full meaning.