Brustbild einer Dame mit Hut 

Editor: This is Otto Scholderer’s “Brustbild einer Dame mit Hut,” or “Bust of a Lady with a Hat,” a drawing on paper held at the Städel Museum. It feels intimate, like a fleeting glimpse into a private moment. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: This drawing offers insight into the social conventions surrounding portraiture, particularly concerning representations of women in the late 19th century. Portraits were often commissioned to signify status and familial legacy. This quick sketch departs from that tradition, no? Editor: Yes, the spontaneity differs from commissioned work. Why do you think Scholderer created it? Curator: Consider the rise of Impressionism and its focus on capturing fleeting moments. Could this sketch reflect a shift towards a more informal and personal representation, challenging the established norms of academic portraiture? Where does this leave the female sitter herself, considering how male artists frequently portrayed them? Editor: That’s interesting. So, the context in which the image was created shaped our understanding of not only the artist, but the sitter and her position as well. Thank you! Curator: And you made me rethink how swift sketches like these democratize portraiture. Thanks to you, too!