Woman reading, in profile to the left 1625 - 1715

Here we see an anonymous drawing of a woman reading, rendered in sanguine, a red chalk, now held at the Statens Museum for Kunst. Without more information, we can only speculate about the historical moment that produced this image. Consider how the act of portraying a woman engaged in reading, traditionally the domain of men, challenges the gendered expectations of its time. Who was this woman? Was she a noblewoman with access to education, or perhaps an artist's model, embodying both intellect and beauty? The drawing offers an intimate glimpse into a private moment. There is an emotional resonance as the woman's focus draws us into her contemplative space, blurring the boundaries between observer and observed. The artist captures a quiet assertion of female intellect. It is a gentle nod towards alternative narratives of female identity.