The homework 1875

Silvestro Lega painted this intimate oil on canvas scene, entitled 'The Homework', sometime in the late 19th century. Here we see a child diligently working at his desk, while a woman, presumably his mother, sits nearby, book in hand. What does this scene tell us about the values of its time? The focus on education, particularly for young men, reflects a growing emphasis on social mobility and national progress in Italy, following its unification. Lega’s work also provides us with a window into the domestic life of the Italian upper-middle class. The opulent furnishings and the woman’s elegant dress speak to a certain level of affluence and leisure. The scene subtly reinforces traditional gender roles, with the mother overseeing her son's education, but it also shows how the rise of the bourgeoisie allowed women to become intellectuals. To fully understand Lega’s painting, we can research Italian history during the Risorgimento, as well as consult fashion and design magazines from the period. This way we can deepen our appreciation of the complex social and cultural forces that shaped its creation.