Study for Hera for "Judgment of Paris" 1916 - 1925

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent’s "Study for Hera for 'Judgment of Paris.'" The sketch of the figure is compelling, but I am not sure how to read the work in the context of its time. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This drawing, while seemingly classical in subject, exists within a historical context where women were often idealized yet simultaneously judged. Hera's pose—defiant yet vulnerable— invites questions about the power dynamics at play in the "Judgment of Paris" narrative and in the broader societal gaze imposed on women. Do you see any evidence for this dynamic in the work? Editor: I see that. The way the figure turns her head makes her seem defiant. Thank you. Curator: Exactly, understanding Sargent's work through a feminist lens enriches our appreciation of the piece.