?Self-Portrait in Profile to Right 

Curator: Here we have Thomas Worlidge's "Self-Portrait in Profile to Right," held within the Tate Collections. It's a small drawing, roughly 174 by 142 millimeters. Editor: The sketchiness gives it an air of immediacy, almost like a fleeting thought captured in graphite. Note the hat; the detail is quite striking. Curator: Indeed. Worlidge, who lived from 1700 to 1766, was deeply influenced by the etching techniques of Rembrandt. We see that reflected in the density of line used to define the form. Editor: And it’s interesting how the profile view, a common convention, adds to a sense of almost detached observation. Self-portraits are usually about the gaze, but here, it’s averted. Curator: Precisely. The cultural context of the self-portrait shifts here, becoming more about the artistic study rather than direct self-representation. What do you take away from this piece overall? Editor: The economical lines express so much! It's a reminder that complex emotions can be suggested with the simplest of means. Curator: Agreed. A fascinating intersection of artistic skill, period style, and quiet introspection, if I may say so.