Two Young Women, One Wearing Turban, in Conversation n.d.

Guercino’s pencil drawing depicts two women in conversation. It speaks to the social norms of 17th-century Italy where the artist lived and worked. During this period, the Catholic Church was a powerful institution. It influenced all aspects of life and encouraged modesty, especially for women. Here, Guercino plays with the boundaries of representing women as a subject in art, a popular theme at the time. Note how one woman is wearing a turban, a symbol of exoticism that can allude to far-away lands or a disguise. Is this a depiction of the everyday, or does the artist suggest a departure from the expectations of Italian society? To gain a deeper insight into Guercino's world, we might consider exploring the history of fashion, theatre, and travel. What did it mean to depict women in these specific social settings? How did Italian culture influence the way artists approached their subjects? These are just some of the questions historians might consider.