Ninetta 1887

Eugen von Blaas painted ‘Ninetta’ in the late 19th century, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It portrays a young Venetian woman, seemingly caught mid-chore. This image must be understood in the context of the 19th century art market, which increasingly favoured picturesque genre scenes. Von Blaas’s paintings catered to the tastes of wealthy tourists seeking idealized representations of Venetian life. Note the model's carefully arranged clothing, the suggestive pose, and the cleanliness of the setting, all of which contribute to a romanticized vision of working-class life. Von Blaas was part of a larger trend in European art, that perpetuated stereotypes about different social classes, and in many cases, about different ethnic groups. To fully understand such an artwork, historians consult a wide range of sources, including exhibition reviews, sales records, and period guidebooks. These materials can help us unpack the social and institutional forces that shaped the production and reception of art in its time.