La Servante (The Servant) 1775

Giovanni David created this print, ‘La Servante’ or ‘The Servant’, in the late 18th century. Its formal composition and subject matter speaks volumes about the social conventions of its time. Here, David presents a woman in service. The print, made in Italy, shows the clothing and customs of the time. The text accompanying the figure suggests a deeper commentary on labour. In the late 1700’s, the Enlightenment ideas of individual rights were spreading across Europe. How does David engage with that? Does he critique the existing class structure? The institutions of art? To interpret this image, we must look at the social conditions that shaped artistic production and the politics of imagery. Contemporary sources, such as letters, diaries, and economic records, can shed light on the relationship between the artwork and its context. By combining formal analysis with a grounding in socio-political history, we can better understand the public role of art.