One example of the Macchiaioli focus on common people and contemporary scenes is the painting called The Illiterate Woman by Odoardo Borrani and created in 1869. In this vertically oriented painting, there are two women in an interior. One of them stands in the foreground of the painting while the other is sitting at a table and seems to be writing something. The difference between these women is the key component of the story told in this painting. In particular, one of the women cannot read or write and seems to dictate some letter to the other woman who can perform these actions and writes a letter on behalf of the illiterate woman. This idea of the painting is also emphasized by the English name used for the painting – The Illiterate or Woman Writing a Letter for Her Maid. The painter does not depict any dramatic historical events but concentrates on a private moment of life of people.This painting may be viewed against the backdrop of other paintings by Macchiaioli, who were interested in showing the portrayal of women of different social standings and their occupation and leisure activities. This painting is particularly important since literacy becomes an indicator of the class difference in this context. The interaction between the two women implies how education would affect one’s communication skills. In the meantime, the situation is not viewed as one in which the illiterate woman has no voice at all and has no possibility of expressing herself, for she dictates what she wants to say and the literate woman becomes the instrument with which she expresses herself. The painting was displayed during the exhibition of I Macchiaioli: Prima dell'impressionismo under catalogue no. 86. Borrani's decision to use this everyday situation as the subject matter of his painting fits in with the overall approach of the Macchiaioli group towards artistic subjects.
The painting presents a quiet scene of two women in the company of each other. The reason for the company seems to be the distance between the ability of comprehension of written words. The lady on the chair is writing a letter which is probably being dictated by her maid. She might also be suggesting her what to write in the letter. The hands of the lady who is standing are held close to herself as if she is hesitant of reaching out for the ink and writing the letter for herself. On the contrary, the other woman seems to be free and confident. She has her head looking up with a sense of freedom that her ability to write provides her.
The paintings about a common life leaves us with plethora of space to explore and find answers to questions that might arise looking at the it; who is she writing the letter to? Does her illiteracy bother her? What does a day in her life might look like?
The painting tells a million stories to the millions of eyes beholding it.
