The fortune teller 

Narcisse-Virgilio Diaz painted ‘The Fortune Teller’ using watercolor, a medium well-suited to the whimsical nature of the scene depicted. Diaz, who was associated with the Barbizon school, often explored romantic themes, yet here, he also touches on the socio-economic realities of 19th-century France. The painting presents a well-dressed woman, presumably of bourgeois status, engaging with a fortune teller. This interaction highlights the era's fascination with the mystical, but also the class disparities inherent in such encounters. The fortune teller, likely from a marginalized community, offers her services to those with more privilege, creating an exchange that underscores the social hierarchy. Are we witnessing an act of exploitation, a moment of connection, or something in between? The gazes and postures of the figures evoke a sense of intrigue and perhaps unease. Diaz invites us to consider the complex dynamics at play when different worlds collide, leaving us to question the true cost of seeking knowledge about the future.