The national flag 1863

Editor: So, here we have Gerolamo Induno's "The National Flag," painted in 1863 using oil on canvas. What strikes me is the almost palpable sense of domesticity contrasting with a moment of clandestine activity, maybe even a rebellion in progress. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, the true subject isn't necessarily the national flag itself, but the *making* of it. Think about the materiality of the flag – the fabrics used, the labor involved in stitching it together. The painting prompts us to consider the unseen hands, predominantly women's, crucial to the Risorgimento, the Italian unification. How were textiles mobilized for nationalist purposes? Editor: That's fascinating. It hadn't occurred to me to focus on the act of making rather than the object itself. So you are suggesting the labour has a patriotic sentiment attached to it? Curator: Precisely. Induno uses a genre scene, something familiar and everyday, to hint at the widespread participation required for a national project. Look at the quality of the fabrics, are they cheap offcuts or something better, indicative of sacrifice, or patronage? Even the needlework on the garments could be saying something - were these home-spun or were they manufactured goods? These aspects become part of the visual rhetoric. Does the flag appear "factory-made", using precision and uniformity, or "folk-made", characterized by variable patterning? Editor: So by analyzing the materiality, the cloth, the labor, you feel we get closer to understanding how ordinary Italians experienced this significant historical period? Curator: Absolutely. It shifts the focus from generals and politicians to the vital contributions of everyday people. What could be seen as mundane domestic crafts and duties take on new symbolic significance within the context of a rising sense of nationhood. Editor: I definitely see that now. Thinking about the social context behind this piece really transforms my reading of the image and it emphasizes a much more grassroots take on Italian nationhood! Thanks! Curator: Exactly, and examining those elements can give a greater appreciation to the whole image!