Two Seated Italian Women with a Baby in a Cradle 1889

Kristian Zahrtmann created “Two Seated Italian Women with a Baby in a Cradle” with graphite on paper. Zahrtmann was a Danish painter who is best known for his history paintings, and his depiction of female figures. Note the domesticity of the scene. The viewer is offered a view of two Italian women tending to a baby in a cradle. Consider that Zahrtmann, as a man, was able to access and depict such an intimate scene. The women are captured in a private moment. This work raises questions about cultural exchange, and representation. Zahrtmann, a Danish artist, is depicting Italian women. What does it mean for an artist to represent people from a different cultural background? How might the dynamics of power and privilege shape the representation? How does Zahrtmann frame Italian women’s identity through his artistic lens?