Minerva, after the Antique 18th-19th century

Editor: Here we have Antoine Alexandre Morel's "Minerva, after the Antique." It's an engraving, and I find the figure so commanding, yet... remote. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image, and its source sculpture, perpetuates a classical ideal of womanhood – rational, strategic, yet desexualized. How does this representation of Minerva reinforce or challenge patriarchal structures of its time, and even today? Editor: I never thought about it that way. It's interesting to consider how even representations of powerful figures can be shaped by societal expectations. Curator: Exactly. By examining these historical portrayals critically, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, gender, and power.