Anne Forbes, Artist 1781

Curator: So here we have David Allan’s "Anne Forbes, Artist," created in 1781. It's an oil painting presented in an oval format. Editor: Right away, it feels so poised, so refined. The light catches her just so, making her skin luminous, while her eyes reflect an inner dream. She looks almost ethereal. Curator: Allan situates Forbes within a Neoclassical framework. The soft color palette and her classicized draped shawl gesture towards antiquity. I am fascinated by the way it challenges typical portrait conventions. Often in those times, women were portrayed as objects of beauty, but here, the inclusion of her drawing tools situates her as an intellectual, actively engaged in the artistic process. This is significant given the socio-political barriers faced by women at that time in the creative industry. Editor: Yes, her focus is interesting, a profile. What is she looking at? What is on that page in front of her? Her lips pursed slightly. It’s very suggestive of something beyond the visual; a hidden part of herself is offered to the viewer. I wonder if Allan painted that glint in her eyes knowingly. I get the impression of potential being tapped and of her being in tune with it. It makes me think what possibilities might have been afforded to her during this era. Curator: And to what extent did those class boundaries further compound matters? If the subject were of different standing in society would Allan depict her differently, using other symbols to hint at different class ideals? She clearly enjoys the benefit of resources – time and access to materials and presumably, if it is indeed a self portrait, her agency in authoring her own image should not be ignored. Editor: Yes! Look closely, too. I mean, the light bounces off the gold pen! He is presenting her carefully as this enlightened spirit of art. Curator: That gilded pen acts as a direct metaphor for creation, doesn't it? Editor: It is an optimistic portrait, filled with delicate brushstrokes and with lots left to interpret. Curator: Considering the position of women at that time, and Allan's own radical approach, this representation acts as a potent symbol, pushing back against constraints. I feel he is rooting for her artistic and intellectual freedom. Editor: Absolutely! A quiet champion of her place in the world. Thank you for taking the time to reveal a fresh layer. Curator: And thanks to you for highlighting such exciting and perceptive angles.