This painting is called "Dream of Joseph" by Francisco de Goya Y Lucientes, c. 1772. I found this in the Google Art Project, its dimensions are w107.5xh143.5 centimeters. The style of this painting is idealized. It would be realistic if there were evidence of how angels and Joesph look. This represents what society perceives to be true on how they look.
The story of this photo is different from how I read it. This was when the angel visited Joeseph in his sleep to tell him to flee, because his son Jesus was in danger. He was instructed to hide until told otherwise. When I saw this photo I saw something slightly different. I know Joseph was struggling with the fact that Mary was pregnant, and the baby was not his. He was distraught because if he divorced her for having an affair she would be stoned to death. He didn't want that so he wanted to divorce her in private. I saw this as an angel trying to calm him down, ease his pain and to realize the bigger picture.
A quote from John berger's "Way of Seeing" states that "Consequently how a woman appears to a man can determine how she will be treated". The way the angel appears in this painting, gives you the sense she expects respect. She isnt flashy, nude, or in any provocative position. She looks elegant, graceful and peaceful. In any case the woman decides how she is viewed, if she dresses and acts a certain way, she will receive the attention and perception associated her actions, positive or negative.
Great choice Chris and very good for noting that the image is idealized- we always see angels depicted in a similar way with wings etc. It's interesting to see the different way Goya shows the Angel and Mary in the background, especially in relation to the quote from Berger that you picked,
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