Hoofd van oude vrouw met hoofddoek, en profil naar links 1775 - 1833

Curator: Here we have a drawing attributed to Jean Bernard, made sometime between 1775 and 1833. It's entitled "Head of an Old Woman with Headscarf, in Profile to the Left," rendered with coloured pencils. Editor: It's immediately striking; there's a raw honesty to it. The artist hasn't shied away from portraying the signs of aging. You really get a sense of the person. Curator: Exactly. The drawing itself is quite intriguing in terms of the materials used. Bernard’s choice of coloured pencil, instead of a more traditional medium like ink or chalk, speaks to an interesting interplay between sketching and refined portraiture. The weave of the paper also contributes texture. How would that decision impact how this portrait might have been circulated or understood at the time? Was it presented as fine art, or viewed primarily as a preparatory study, or perhaps something in between? Editor: I'm wondering about the social context as well. Who was this woman, and what did it mean to represent aging women in this period? The simple headscarf suggests a particular class or social standing, and depicting her in profile allows us to really study her features – lines, wrinkles. What kind of narratives are being built around the life cycle and around labor? Curator: The level of detail he achieves with the coloured pencils is fascinating. You can really see the individual strokes. Considering the labour involved in such a detailed work raises questions about production – how were materials sourced? Who prepared the paper? All of those production aspects have impact on the consumption and viewing of this drawing. Editor: I think situating it within a feminist perspective allows us to examine how women, particularly older women, were marginalized in society, and how art played a role in either reinforcing or challenging those marginalizations. The lack of idealization forces a confrontation with time, aging, mortality. How does that intersect with prevailing gendered expectations of beauty and representation? Curator: Interesting food for thought about art consumption. Thank you! Editor: Likewise. Looking at her portrait in profile, considering context, allows to question representations.