Girl's head in the profile 1879

Otto Scholderer made this pencil drawing of a girl's head in 1879. It is a study of a woman in profile wearing a large beaded necklace and captures the late 19th century German academic style, influenced by classical ideals, with its emphasis on precise drawing and idealized beauty. Portraits of women during this time were often commissioned by the upper classes and served as status symbols, reflecting the subject's social standing and the values of the era. Artists like Scholderer were supported through formal art institutions, such as academies and exhibitions, where they gained recognition and patronage. The artwork's existence reflects the institutional structures that both enabled and shaped artistic production in Germany. To better understand this drawing, one might delve into the social history of portraiture in Germany, the role of women in art, and the influence of the art academy on artistic styles and subject matter.