The Old Lady's Garden 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Jean François Raffaëlli's "The Old Lady's Garden," its date is unknown, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The soft palette gives it an almost dreamlike quality. What societal narratives do you think this piece engages with? Curator: Consider the late 19th century’s focus on the domestic sphere. How does Raffaëlli both embrace and perhaps subvert the romanticized view of women and their gardens, given his larger focus on the urban poor? Editor: That's interesting. I never considered that the urban setting might be a subversive element. Curator: Right. By placing this figure in what might be a liminal space between urban and rural, Raffaëlli invites us to question the idealized images circulating at the time. It seems to highlight a very different role for women than those in power portrayed. Editor: I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks.