[title not known] 

Curator: This delicate pencil drawing, currently untitled, is by Elizabeth Rigby. Though undated, Rigby was active in the 19th century. Editor: There’s a quietude to it, a sense of reserved dignity in the sitter’s gaze and posture. Curator: Indeed. Rigby's delicate use of line and subtle shading models the planes of the face beautifully. Notice the intricate rendering of the bonnet and lace collar. Editor: And yet, there’s something about the attire that speaks to societal constraints on women, particularly intellectual women like Rigby, who often had to navigate a patriarchal world. Curator: Certainly, the modesty is palpable. But the sheer skill on display can be considered, in and of itself, a form of defiance. Editor: A quiet rebellion, perhaps. The very act of a woman creating art in that era challenged norms. It's a complex dance between compliance and subversion. Curator: A fitting summary. It leaves me with a renewed appreciation for Rigby's artistic prowess. Editor: And for the silent stories these portraits hold.