Throughout the ages, women reading have often been the subject of paintings. This simple act of showing women engaging in a leisure activity often has had deeper connotations than what we might realize today: In the past and at different historical eras, education was reserved for only women of wealthier classes, seen as preparation for marriage, and viewed as dangerous.
Paintings of women reading — often painted by men, and sometimes by women — give the viewer varying ranges of ability to gaze upon the subjects during private moments where a woman has a book in her hands, sometimes with the woman looking back at the subject, sometimes with her turning away and sometimes with her oblivious to the viewer at all. Through these viewpoints, artists make a variety of statements, offering their commentary on the appropriateness and purpose of the task.
In light of these layers of meaning, let’s not forget that women’s opportunities and abilities to read freely in the current moment — and our ability to dismiss images of women reading as mundane — have been hard-won by those who have lived before us; let’s exercise our right to read remembering that still today, many women around the world are not able to read, accounting for ⅔ of approximately 781 million people who are illiterate globally, according to the National Literacy Institute.
Here, we recreate the painting “In the Library,” by Auguste Toumouche, 1872 by reimagining it in the present day. May this photo help us to reflect on the ways we read now and how that has changed throughout the decades, and inspire us to continue to take up this privilege to think, to enjoy, to connect, making the world and ourselves better through the free and open exchange of ideas and perspectives.
Tell us about your relationship with reading.
The book mobile was parked on a side street of the boulevard a block from my house. I was 5, maybe 6, and it was the first time for me to climb those two shallow steps into the comforting smell of ink, pressed papers, fabrics and glue which embodied each tiny tome of wonder and adventure. Those scents and that sensation stay with me today. My house decor will always include rows of books lining the walls or stacked haphazardly on any horizontal surface — even the floor. I cannot imagine a life without the ability or opportunity to read everyday!
Why do you read? What do you read most often?
My reading has changed over time. Throughout my school career, I read mostly the classics — and the wordier, the better! During my early work life, I shifted to more contemporary novels, and in my later work life, I focused almost exclusively on business and entrepreneurial publications. Currently, I am reading more blogs, magazines and online news articles to gain understanding, knowledge and enlightenment more than for relaxation and escape. That must change!
What is a text that has impacted your life or the way you view the world, and how has it changed you?
I first read “The Grapes of Wrath” in the sixth grade. I loved the words and writing style, but the oppression and sadness were really all the understanding my youth and inexperience allowed. I read it next as an adult. This time, the pages were filled with a poignancy and a sense of humanity I had not fully grasped in my first reading. I once again read about the poverty, exploitation, and loss of innocence and human dignity, but now, I was able to discern the empathy, resilience, perseverance and community that ultimately left me with the feeling of hope. I have since read the book again, and the overarching theme remains “hope,” and hope is what pushes us forward in difficult times.
What are three pieces of writing you recommend to others?
“1984” by George Orwell, “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
What is your favorite line from a book?
So many.
“We accept the love we think we deserve.” — From “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
“All we can know is that we know nothing. And that’s the height of human wisdom.” — From “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” — From “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery
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