Repos de bohémiennes en forêt 

Narcisse-Virgilio Diaz painted "Repos de bohémiennes en forêt" in France in the 19th century. It depicts two Romani women resting in a forest, bathed in soft light. The image taps into the romanticized view of Romani people common at the time. Often portrayed as outsiders, the Romani were figures of both fascination and prejudice, fitting into a wider Orientalist trend in French art. Diaz may have been drawing on this trope to add an exotic flair to his work, a way to appeal to the art market. The women are idealized, their clothing colourful and appealing. But paintings like this also reflect the complex social dynamics of 19th-century France, including changing ideas about leisure, nature, and cultural identity. Art historians can examine period literature, photographs, and sociological studies to better understand the historical context of this artwork. Its meaning is less in the image itself, but rather in the dialogue it opens with the world around it.