A woman standing in profile, facing right and writing on a tablet 1533 - 1543

This is Andrea Schiavone’s etching of a woman standing in profile and writing on a tablet. The artwork comes from sixteenth-century Venice, a society where women’s literacy and intellectual pursuits were often marginalized. Here, Schiavone depicts a woman actively engaged in the traditionally male-dominated activity of writing, challenging conventional gender roles. Her flowing dress and unbound hair contrasts sharply with her focused expression. The tension between these elements invites us to consider the complexities of a woman navigating the boundaries of her time. The ambiguity of the setting and the somewhat obscured details of the tablet invite a personal interpretation of the woman's narrative. Is she composing a love letter, recording historical events, or perhaps even writing in secret? The artwork encourages us to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of women who sought knowledge and expression in a world that often tried to silence them.