Portrait of Miss Martin 1895

Otto Scholderer rendered this portrait of Miss Martin with graphite on paper sometime in the mid-19th century. As a portrait of a woman by a man, this drawing exists within a long tradition of the male gaze shaping female representation. It’s interesting to consider how Scholderer approaches the depiction of Miss Martin, especially as a man painting in a society where gender roles were so clearly defined. Does he present her as an individual, or does she stand-in for the ideal woman of his time? The soft lines and delicate shading seem to suggest a certain gentleness, perhaps reflecting societal expectations of women during this period. The fact that we only know her as ‘Miss Martin’ also speaks volumes about the limited recognition afforded to women as individuals in this era. As we consider this drawing, we might ask ourselves how it maintains or challenges the norms of its time, and what it tells us about the artist's own views and the position of women in 19th century society.