L’attente 

Alfred Stevens, a Belgian painter, captured this scene, L’attente, or The Wait, using oil on canvas. The woman in the painting seems to epitomize the Belle Époque. Made in France, the artist presents us with a privileged woman, fashionably dressed, awaiting a social event or suitor. Her elegant gown, jewelry, and the lavish interior signal her high social status. But the picture is about more than just wealth. Her pensive posture and the title itself, The Wait, hint at the social constraints placed upon women of this era. Confined to a domestic role, her life revolved around appearances and expectations. To fully understand Stevens' work, we must delve into the social history of 19th-century Europe. Examining fashion trends, etiquette manuals, and literature of the time can give a better understanding of the cultural forces at play. By looking at these things, the painting prompts us to think about the public role of art and the politics of imagery.