Baptizing 

Antonio Donghi’s painting, “Baptizing,” shows us a family rendered in oil on canvas with great attention to their social appearance. Donghi has given significant attention to the garments worn by the subjects of the painting. We can see the tailored suit, the simple cotton dresses, and the carefully swaddled baby. These details speak to the family's social standing, their participation in the rites of the church, and their intention to appear in a certain light. The clothes are a testament to the labor of textile production and garment making, and the social rituals that surround events such as a baptism. The material choices—from the cut of the man's suit to the drape of the women's dresses—hint at the family’s economic status, suggesting a comfortable, if not opulent, lifestyle. It's clear that Donghi wasn't just painting people, but using materials to tell a story of social convention, economic status, and the importance of appearances in the early 20th century.