Portrait of an Aboriginal Woman (Maria Yulgilbar) 1895

Tom Roberts captured this striking likeness of Maria Yulgilbar with oil on canvas. Maria's gaze drifts away, perhaps lost in thought or memory, framed against an ethereal golden backdrop. Consider this portrait in light of the ancient tradition of the profile view, a pose found in Egyptian sarcophagi, Roman coins, and Renaissance portraiture. The profile, often associated with rulers or the elite, symbolizes authority and timelessness. Yet, here, it bestows a quiet dignity on Maria, an Aboriginal woman, inviting us to ponder the artist's intentions. Does the artist want to monumentalize her as an individual, or a member of her culture? This echoes through history, resonating with archetypes of strength and resilience. It reminds us that the past is never truly gone; it resurfaces, transformed, in the art of each new era. Through portraiture, artists tap into our collective memory, triggering subconscious responses to enduring symbols of the human experience.