Girl Seated 

Renée Sintenis made this drawing, Girl Seated, with pencil on paper. Sintenis was working in Germany during the Weimar Republic, a time of great social and political change. The Weimar era saw new artistic styles emerging and an increasing number of women becoming artists. We see here the loose, free lines, and pared-down aesthetic typical of the New Objectivity movement. The girl appears self-possessed, with an androgynous look and a cool, almost melancholy gaze. This challenges traditional representations of women and girls. The drawing could be seen as a commentary on the changing roles of women in German society at the time. To fully understand a work of art, we have to consider the complex social, cultural, and institutional contexts in which it was created. By researching historical sources, critical texts, and artists' biographies, we can gain a deeper understanding of the meanings and intentions behind the work.