Study of a Standing Woman c. 1910

Curator: Heinrich Zille's "Study of a Standing Woman" presents a somber figure, rendered in graphite on paper. Editor: She seems lost in thought, doesn't she? The way she clutches her hands suggests a vulnerability, a quiet strength perhaps forged by hardship. Curator: Zille was known for his depictions of working-class Berliners. He aimed to portray their realities without romanticism, reflecting the social struggles of his time. Editor: Absolutely. This drawing feels like a commentary on the everyday resilience of women facing economic precarity. Her clothing and posture speak volumes about her social position. Curator: It is held at the Harvard Art Museums and measures just 20 by 13 centimeters, a very intimate scale for such a powerful subject. Editor: It stays with you, doesn't it? A reminder of the stories etched in the faces of those often overlooked. Curator: Indeed, Zille compels us to reconsider who gets memorialized and how.