Sketchbook page c. 1776

Curator: This delicate sketch by Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin, simply titled "Sketchbook page," captures a woman in profile. Its small scale, roughly 19 by 12 centimeters, gives it an intimate feel. Editor: There’s a quiet restraint to it, isn’t there? The veiled figure seems almost trapped in her social role, her form dictated by the strict lines of her dress. Curator: Saint-Aubin’s sketchbook pages were often studies of figures encountered in public. Considering the era, the veil could signify societal expectations, or even religious affiliation shaping the woman's identity. Editor: The sketch feels almost like an act of defiance, a quiet reclaiming of individuality against the uniformity expected of women. It makes you wonder about the artist's own views on these restrictions. Curator: It is a reminder that even seemingly simple images can hold layers of meaning, influenced by the cultural context in which they were created. Editor: Exactly! And how we, as viewers today, project our own understanding of identity onto these historical figures.