Man lighting pipe 

Filippo Indoni painted this watercolor of a man lighting a pipe, but we don’t know exactly when. The painting provides a glimpse into Italian daily life, likely in the southern regions, during the late 19th century. Indoni captured the ordinary moments of working-class people. Notice the man's traditional clothing: a feathered hat, vest, and distinctive footwear. These details offer insights into regional customs and social identities. Tobacco use was rising among ordinary people in Europe, and for many, it was a signifier of work, leisure, and community. We can think about the painting as a social document, an image capturing cultural practices and norms. Historians can study paintings like this, in conjunction with local archives and costume collections, to better understand social life in the past. Close study of the cultural context reveals even more meaning in what might initially seem like a simple scene.