Jeanne La Folle 

Editor: Here we have Charles de Steuben's oil painting, *Jeanne La Folle*. It certainly evokes a somber mood; it's a grand, theatrical portrayal. What do you see in this depiction? Curator: Theatre, you say? Precisely! Imagine yourself center stage, bathed in melancholic light. That's the emotional heart of Romanticism, isn't it? It paints Jeanne—Joanna of Castile—as anything *but* mad. Notice the calm strength in her face, her protective hand resting near the… well, the golden dummy on the bier. Do you feel her unwavering… grief, defiance? Editor: Golden dummy? You mean her husband, Philip the Handsome, laid out in state? So, there's a deliberate contrast there? Her emotional intensity versus his… gilded stillness? Curator: Gilded stillness! Oh, I shall steal that phrase. Consider the context – Joanna's struggles, the political machinations of her father and husband… this isn't a woman driven mad; this is a woman driven into a corner! It speaks to the universal plight of powerful women battling forces trying to dispossess them. Doesn't it almost make you want to write a play? Editor: It certainly does. I was only focused on the mourning aspect. Thinking about the wider themes adds a richer dimension. Curator: Absolutely! And now, my friend, perhaps *you* can teach *me* a thing or two… Which aspect resonates with you the most? Editor: Probably the quiet resistance that’s portrayed within. This has definitely provided me with more to reflect upon. Curator: The pleasure was all mine. It seems we have uncovered a gem, which resonates well today.