Place de la Concorde c. 1899

Matilda Mueden Leisenring created this watercolor and graphite drawing, titled *Place de la Concorde*. Leisenring, born in 1873, lived in an era marked by significant shifts in women's roles and artistic expressions. Consider the setting of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Historically, this square was a site of revolution. But here, it is rendered with a quiet, almost subdued palette. The choice to depict such an iconic location, typically associated with grand historical narratives, through a more intimate and personal lens speaks to the artist's perspective. As a woman artist, Leisenring navigated a world where her contributions might have been easily overlooked. Her gaze offers an alternative to the dominant, often masculine, representations of public spaces. This work invites us to reflect on the quieter stories embedded within grand historical settings, and to consider whose perspectives are included and whose are often left out.