Gypsy beauty 

Federico Andreotti painted this portrait, titled "Gypsy Beauty", at some point during his career in late nineteenth-century Italy. Note how Andreotti employs a visual shorthand to signify the sitter's identity, associating her with the nomadic Romani people through the use of the word 'Gypsy' and by clothing her in vibrant, exotic colors. During this period, the Romani were often romanticized in art and literature, stereotyped as free-spirited wanderers and fortune-tellers. The painting, therefore, operates within a broader history of cultural representation, reflecting the power dynamics between dominant and marginalized groups. It also speaks to the increasing commercialization of art and the way that artists responded to market demands. To fully understand the cultural significance of this painting, we can consult historical documents, literature, and studies of Romani culture. Through this, we can understand the artwork as a product of its time, shaped by prevailing social attitudes and artistic conventions.