Ein Geborne Deutsche. Meine Freund C. Simonis gewidmet 1785

Editor: So, here we have "Ein Geborne Deutsche. Meine Freund C. Simonis gewidmet," a portrait print made with engraving in 1785 by Gerhard Ludvig Lahde. There's something about the delicate lines and profile view that gives it a classical, almost stoic feel. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see this piece as a powerful commentary on female identity and nationality in late 18th century Germany. The inscription, "A Native German Woman, Dedicated to My Friend C. Simonis," points to a specific individual, but also elevates her to represent German womanhood. It prompts us to question: What did it mean to be a German woman during this period of burgeoning nationalism and shifting social roles? Editor: That's a great point. I was just focusing on the style, but the inscription really shifts the perspective. How would her being German factor in at that time? Curator: Exactly. Think about the rise of national identity and the ways in which women were often symbolic representations of the nation. Was she an active participant in intellectual or political circles? Did she contribute to the shaping of German cultural identity? Also, consider the 'friend' dedication... What possibilities could there be about their relationship, whether or not their connection empowered them somehow? Editor: It makes me think about the limits placed on women then, and how a simple portrait could become a quiet statement of belonging and maybe even resistance. Curator: Precisely! And this image encourages us to critically examine the prevailing patriarchal norms and power dynamics of the era, to question whose stories were being told and whose were being erased. What narratives were circulating about women and the feminine ideal at the time? Editor: I hadn't considered the social and political undercurrents within such a simple seeming dedication, the way she is labeled is in effect her political role as "geborner Deutsche". Curator: It’s through understanding those contexts that we can truly appreciate the richness and complexity of even seemingly simple artworks. Editor: This really gives me a fresh way to view portraiture – as not just an individual likeness, but a signifier of broader social and political realities. Thank you!