Ruben's Wife c. 18th century

Curator: This engraving, "Ruben's Wife" by Christian Friedrich, offers a glimpse into the ways women were framed within the artistic legacies of their husbands. What strikes you most about the portrait? Editor: I'm drawn to her gaze, it's both direct and somehow…melancholy? Curator: Precisely. Consider the title – she’s defined solely through her relationship to a famous man. How does this framing limit her identity, and how does Friedrich’s rendering of her facial expression perhaps hint at a quiet rebellion against this very constraint? Editor: I see what you mean. It makes me wonder about her individual story, beyond just being "Rubens' Wife." Curator: Exactly! This piece prompts us to question the power dynamics inherent in portraiture, especially concerning women's representation throughout history. Editor: I'll definitely look at portraits differently now. Thanks!