Brystbillede af en kone på 75 år 1822 - 1885

Joel Ballin created this portrait in black and white of a seventy-five-year-old woman. Born into a Jewish family in Copenhagen, Ballin gained recognition as a printmaker during a time of evolving social norms and artistic expression. During the 1800's, representing older women in art was often fraught with stereotypes, frequently casting them in supporting roles. However, Ballin’s depiction invites a different reading. He captures her individuality through the lines etched into her face. Her gaze carries a certain knowing, and the details of her simple clothing speak to a life lived without pretense. It is tempting to imagine the conversations and experiences that have shaped her. Ballin has rendered a very particular face, and one is left wondering how she navigated the expectations of her gender and age within the cultural norms of her time.