The Letter 1746

"The Letter" by Pietro Longhi, painted in 1746, is a genre painting depicting a scene of daily life. The scene is set in a simple interior with several figures engaged in domestic activities. A young woman in a pink dress sits at a table with a wig on her head, apparently receiving a message from an older woman. Another woman sleeps at a table with a book, and a young girl knits. The work is known for its detailed portrayal of everyday life and its humor, typical of Longhi's "genre paintings", often depicting scenes from Venetian society in the 18th century.