Bildnis einer jungen Frau nach rechts 

Curator: Otto Scholderer's "Portrait of a Young Woman, Facing Right" at the Städel Museum strikes me as an image full of quiet contemplation. The muted tones give a sense of intimacy and delicacy. What do you see? Editor: Initially, I see a young woman caught in a very specific power dynamic. The drawing's unfinished state hints at the labour and social relations embedded within artistic production in the 19th century. Who was this woman, and what was her relationship to Scholderer? Was she a family member, a paid model, or someone in between? Curator: The grid underlying the drawing clearly speaks to Scholderer's technical approach—quite a formal methodology there. Pencil, charcoal, chalk...it appears he tested the possibilities of dry media when rendering skin tones and textures. This shows dedication to craft. Editor: Yes, but that underlying grid also makes me think about the constraints placed on women in this period. Were women even in control of their own image, or did they depend on the artist? In addition, what does the delicate rendering and apparent "softness" reinforce concerning the social expectations imposed upon women at the time? Curator: While the subject's role is key to keep in mind, Scholderer’s attention to material realities fascinates me. For example, you can sense the weave of fabric on the cap she wears, but also, he meticulously renders the lace detailing on the collar of her dress. Editor: Material culture, such as dresses and textiles, communicated status and identity. Consider how gender and class intersected. I wonder, for example, about the level of access women, such as our model, had to producing and acquiring these objects and what they stood to communicate. Curator: I appreciate how his exploration with the dry media adds nuance to the representation. The tonal gradations around the eyes give incredible depth of expression to her gaze. Editor: True, the artwork offers a unique lens into the sitter’s face, as well as the historical backdrop. It's vital, however, that when viewing the image, we keep questioning whose gaze ultimately controls the narrative. Curator: Seeing the image this way gives us fresh insight into artistic intent. Editor: Agreed. It really compels you to question what you see.