Spring

This is a painting by Rosalba Carriera called Spring (1725). The painting depicts a woman wearing a very loose set of clothing, with one sleeve falling off her shoulder and leaving a breast exposed. She is holding a small flower in her hand as if to smell it, with several other flowers in her hair and by her fallen clothing. Her face is cast to the side but her eyes are painted coyly and in the direction of the audience. Overall, this is an erotic portrait of a woman. Aside from the partial nudity and the flirtatious look on her face, the curvy lines of her body emphasize a level of sensuality. Also, the lighting on her chest and face, as well as the pastel used, give a "soft" look to her skin, adding yet another layer of realness and sensuality to the piece. The erotic painting of the woman was a direct result of the changing views on women during Carriera's time. This was a period influenced by the Enlightenment, where not only did women gain some liberties such as education, but the idea of sex was not as conservatively viewed as in the Renaissance or Middle Ages. Once such reason was because marriages were often arranged, leaving married couples unhappy and developing multiple sexual affairs. Thus, the idea of sexuality was expressed more in the public, as seen from Carriera's Spring. Even though such an image was topical at the time, some traditional views of woman are also seen in this painting, such as the incorporation of flowers. The flowers in the painting, as well as the title Spring, are are not only associated with women in terms of reproduction and fertility, but also in terms of trivialness. The idea comes from the Renaissance, where numerous women artists limited themselves to painting flowers because society at the time did not believe women artists were capable of more. Carriera, however, is certainly capable of more, as indicated by this skillful piece.