Halbfigur eines Mädchens mit rotem Mieder c. 1771 - 1772

Georg Melchior Kraus made this watercolor of a girl in a red bodice. Though undated, Kraus was court painter in Weimar from 1775, which gives us some context. What does it mean to capture the image of a young woman? Kraus was working at a time when traditional roles for women were being challenged. This image, however, maintains conventional representations of women; the girl's gaze is demure, and her clothing modest. Consider the emotional implications. Is there a subtle tension between the girl’s own identity and the role she is expected to play? What does it mean to see a girl depicted in such a way during a period of social change? This image serves not only as a portrait but also as a reflection of the complex negotiations of gender, identity, and representation in the late 18th century.