Girl with Reticule and Rose c. 1840

Joseph Whiting Stock painted this portrait, "Girl with Reticule and Rose," using oil on canvas. The flat expanses of color show the way Stock built up the image, block by block. The girl's dress and reticule show off Stock's attention to detail, as the clothing signifies not just fashion, but the labor involved in textile production. The textures and decoration of the rug at her feet, the ornamentation of her satin dress, and the details of her jewelry all speak to a culture of middle-class aspiration. This was an era where portraits became accessible to a wider population, meeting the needs of a growing middle class eager to participate in a culture of display. Stock wasn't only painting a likeness, he was making a social document, indicative of class and taste, where the means of production is embedded within the artwork.