Female Novice n.d.

Curator: Nicolas Vleughels, a name maybe not on everyone’s radar, but someone whose works consistently reveal glimpses into bygone sensibilities. I'd like to introduce you to his study, "Female Novice," rendered in chalk and pencil. Editor: Right, well, my first thought: she looks so pensive. A beautiful, restrained sadness in her expression. You immediately wonder about her story. It’s almost like a vintage photograph, that warmth. Curator: Absolutely, that subdued tone works so well! The piece has a particular iconography too, doesn't it? Her clothing speaks to more than just fashion. Novices, in art and in life, are symbols of transition, liminal spaces… Editor: Indeed. The clothing and particularly that head covering denote purity, but also submission to something beyond herself. Think about similar veiled figures throughout history: a bride, a widow, even depictions of the Virgin Mary… all echoing ideas of sacrifice, dedication. Curator: It strikes me that it may not just be dedication, it could be hesitation too. She clutches what appears to be a writing instrument... Is she renouncing learning, knowledge, or perhaps compelled to a religious life that’s not her natural path? Editor: A beautiful ambiguity! The mind fills in gaps. I like the bare background, also—makes you feel slightly detached and adds to the dreamlike effect. And speaking of things felt rather than shown: consider how fashion shifted throughout the times... What statements could she be making now? Curator: And she doesn't need a brightly lit room, but only subtle illumination. So delicately handled... It speaks of inner contemplation rather than outward expression. So very Vleughels. Editor: It has an unassuming power, doesn't it? Making one stop to remember, making one stop to feel... That's why great pieces resonate across generations. Curator: Exactly. Thank you for taking the time.