Head of a Young Woman c. 1860s

George Frederic Watts made this drawing, Head of a Young Woman, using chalk on paper during the Victorian era. Watts was a prominent figure in the Symbolist movement, which often explored themes of beauty, spirituality, and the ideal self. This head study, likely a preparatory sketch, offers an intimate glimpse into the artist's process of capturing female beauty. During this period, women were frequently objectified and idealized in art, which reflected societal expectations. The sitter's gaze is averted, perhaps suggesting modesty or introspection, qualities valued in women at the time. It is difficult to consider the many women who were not represented, or whose representations served to reify power structures. Watts himself believed that art should inspire and ennoble the viewer. However, it's worth considering how the traditional representation of women, even when seemingly reverential, can limit and define their roles in society. What alternative narratives of womanhood might have been possible, and what would they look like?