Full-length Portrait of a Woman 1846

Here we see a quick sketch of a woman by Dante Gabriel Rossetti made in 1846, during the Victorian era. Rossetti was a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, who often challenged the established artistic conventions. While this sketch is not a formal Pre-Raphaelite work, it provides insight into the Victorian representation of women. The woman is depicted in profile, her face obscured by a bonnet, which was typical of the time. Rossetti’s choice to conceal her face prompts us to reflect on the limited agency women had during the Victorian period. She appears poised, yet also passive. While Rossetti’s later paintings frequently romanticized female beauty, here he captures a sense of everyday life. Her attire and posture suggest a certain social class, yet her downcast gaze hints at inner thoughts. Rossetti skillfully blends formal representation with an intimate depiction of a woman's presence. This drawing allows us to reflect on Victorian societal expectations and the often unseen realities of women's lives.