Portrait of a Young Woman 

Curator: Look at this "Portrait of a Young Woman," rendered with such delicate grace by Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio. The date of creation is unknown, adding to its enigmatic allure. Editor: My first thought is how hauntingly reserved she seems. It’s as if she is watching us, maybe even judging our modern sensibilities. Curator: Precisely! Boltraffio has captured a kind of controlled vulnerability. Her hands clasped together are suggestive of modesty, but her steady gaze hints at something more. This speaks to a cultural ideal. Early depictions of women, especially from this time, are less about their individual traits and more about a projected set of social virtues. How the Patriarchy defines women as being quiet and subtle and pure. Editor: It’s interesting you mention the societal aspects. When I view her expression, she looks not quiet or subtle, but stoic! Boltraffio has given her agency even if just a small allowance of that agency. Do you feel that her placement as almost the center of the painting impacts the eye or the expression being noticed? It gives her power. Curator: The artist is clever with colors, isn’t it? Red draws you to the heart, that inner life. That’s how Boltraffio subtly sneaks some individuality into a fairly standard portrait. It seems like the work invites us to consider the many constraints that framed female identity, whilst gently showing there is more than meets the eye. It is as if he has some sense that she does not meet the demure and sweet, maybe has seen glimpses into this sitter’s soul, even in a minor moment in time. I adore his subtlety; he knows to be careful. Editor: Ultimately, though we come with all of our preconceived notions, whether through experience, gender or historical research, an image should be open enough that all viewpoints matter. I’d like to think this young woman is saying that exact same thing. Curator: And with a glance like that, I think she has certainly told us!