Esbozo De Goya Repasado Por Weiss 1824

Curator: Oh, look, this unassuming graphite drawing practically vibrates with hidden energy. It's titled "Esbozo De Goya Repasado Por Weiss," a sketch based on Goya's work, reworked by Rosario Weiss Zorrilla in 1824. Editor: I'm immediately struck by the tension in the lines—the sitter seems caught between caricature and profound insight. The rapid, almost frantic strokes contrast so starkly with the traditional portrait format, challenging notions of representation and identity within a rigid societal structure. Curator: I see exactly what you mean. Weiss was known for her perceptive portraits. Her reworkings, her 'espazos', weren't just copies. She really had a certain style that involved creating intimate expressions with mere graphite lines. Editor: Exactly! As a woman artist at that time, Weiss’ positionality significantly impacted her gaze, right? Taking Goya's original and putting her own spin, she disrupts the power dynamics inherent in portraiture itself. The visible strokes make me think about the traces of labor—both her own and the history of the genre she engages with. It reveals rather than conceals the artistic process. Curator: Right, it becomes about *seeing* the construction of an image. There’s something so modern about that, even now. It’s unfinished, raw, and unapologetic. The lack of refinement highlights a pure intention...a desire to capture not just likeness but personality too. Look at those playful strokes used for the hair. I see almost a spark of joy despite the somewhat severe mien. Editor: Absolutely, but isn't that juxtaposition precisely the point? It’s a dance between capturing and resisting. Think about how sketching—typically a preliminary stage—becomes the artwork itself. That disrupts established artistic hierarchies! She’s subverting our expectations, really inviting us to consider who is allowed to create and whose gaze is valued. Curator: Precisely. I like to imagine her at work, taking these established representations and gently dismantling them, one confident graphite line at a time. Editor: And through that dismantling, subtly creating space for herself. This seemingly simple sketch is actually brimming with a layered history, social commentary, and artistic intervention. Curator: It leaves me wondering about the conversations between Goya and Weiss, their shared passions and diverging paths. Editor: And reminds me that the most radical acts often appear in the most unassuming forms. Thank you, Rosario Weiss, for challenging the status quo with a pencil and paper.