Unknown by John Duncan

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facial expression drawing

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head

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portrait reference

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acrylic on canvas

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portrait head and shoulder

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animal drawing portrait

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portrait drawing

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facial portrait

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forehead

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portrait art

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fine art portrait

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digital portrait

Copyright: Public domain

Here is a portrait made with paint by John Duncan, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Duncan was part of the Celtic Revival, a movement which sought to reimagine Scottish identity through its pre-Christian myths and legends. This portrait is a good example of the movement's aesthetic. The woman's stylized dress and head covering seem to evoke a romanticized ancient past. Her downcast gaze lends her an air of melancholy, and the dark shadow behind her head adds to the somber mood. Portraits like this one tread a fine line. On the one hand, it seeks to create an image of a specifically Scottish woman; on the other hand, this image seems to draw from a broader range of European sources, from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Symbolists. Does this picture solidify a sense of Scottish identity, or does it dilute it?

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