Reading 

Ethel Léontine Gabain painted ‘Reading,’ a portrait of a woman indoors, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Gabain lived through both World Wars, experiencing the changing roles of women in society. This painting captures a quiet, private moment. The woman, possibly a portrait of the artist's sister, is absorbed in her book, away from the public gaze. She is wearing a casual dress, her hair loosely up, signaling a moment of relaxation and solitude. The setting is domestic, near a window, suggesting both enclosure and a connection to the outside world. Gabain, who was a lithographer and painter, often depicted women in intimate settings. Her work offers a nuanced perspective on female experience during a time of significant social change. The painting invites us to reflect on the value of personal space and the quiet rebellion found in the act of reading. It reminds us that the stories we read and the spaces we inhabit shape who we are.