Tête de Parisienne (Head of a Parisian Woman) 1894

Curator: Henry Somm's "Tête de Parisienne," created around 1894, captures a woman of the fin de siècle. This drypoint and pencil drawing offers an intimate glimpse into Parisian life. What are your first thoughts? Editor: It's the rapid, sketchy lines that draw me in. The materiality of the print—the pressure, the tool against the plate—conveys a certain restless energy. It’s more than just a portrait; it's an investigation of how technique captures a fleeting moment. Curator: Absolutely. The rapid lines speak volumes about Impressionism's effect on portraiture, disrupting academic conventions. I think it is also interesting to consider her anonymity; she stands in for an archetype, and reveals contemporary ideals about women's fashion and urban existence. Editor: Indeed. The oversized hat, that enormous feathered confection, it speaks to the fashion industry driving much of this aesthetic, what raw materials were used? Where did those feathers originate? Someone had to labor for this image, not just the artist, but all those behind the scenes. Curator: A keen observation. When we contextualize it within late 19th-century Paris, it raises critical questions about the burgeoning consumer culture and the performative aspects of identity. We can look at race too and explore the legacy of colonialism inherent in those materials and their consumption. Editor: Right, let's examine the image itself, not just the woman, but the printed matter, the paper, the ink. The choice of drypoint for reproducibility also has consequences; each impression, though similar, bears unique marks from the artist’s hand, further blurring that line between commodity and original artwork. Curator: Ultimately, Somm's work operates as a fascinating entry point to examining the nexus of identity, material culture, and labor in a rapidly changing urban landscape. Editor: A compelling piece when understood through the tangible elements that shaped both its production and its meaning.