Broodverkoopster 1769 - 1838

This etching of a bread seller was made by Carlo Lasinio, an Italian artist, at the turn of the 19th century. Here, we see a woman selling bread outside the Porta al Prato in Florence. Lasinio’s print offers a window into the everyday life of the city and the commercial activities of ordinary people. The inscription highlights the type of bread she sells, including ‘scuole’ which were small rolls. During this period, the division of labor was often depicted in art to showcase the different aspects of society. There were also debates at the time about the ideal role of women in society. Images such as these can be used to understand gendered labor in the early 1800s and how it was represented by Italian artists. Art historians consult a variety of sources to provide context, including social and economic histories, visual culture studies, and gender studies. These enable us to better understand the narratives and meanings that images once had and continue to have today.