Head of a Child (from McGuire Scrapbook) 1806 - 1887

Edward Dalton Marchant rendered this charcoal drawing, Head of a Child, during the nineteenth century. Note the child's elaborate curls. This motif extends back through time, notably present in depictions of Cupid and Psyche in classical art, representing innocence and beauty. The coiffure evokes a complex array of associations that go beyond mere aesthetics. Consider how Renaissance artists also used similar curls to depict angels, infusing the image with a sense of divine innocence. This visual language, embedded in our collective memory, resurfaces in Marchant’s drawing, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The soft curls carry an emotional weight, tapping into our innate sense of purity and vulnerability associated with childhood. This non-linear progression shows how symbols are never truly bound by time, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.