Mrs. Fitzherbert 1786

Editor: Here we have "Mrs. Fitzherbert," an engraving dating back to 1786. It's a formal portrait, very poised. It gives me a sense of… contained energy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, "contained energy" – I love that! It makes me think of champagne right before the cork pops! To me, this piece speaks volumes about societal expectations placed upon women in the Rococo era, all that powdered hair! It's like looking at a beautiful bird in a gilded cage. I wonder, do you feel the landscape, though muted, hints at a desire for freedom? Editor: Definitely, there is a sense of her being literally framed by it, separated but yearning. And is it my imagination, or is the rendering a little…unfinished? It feels less polished than other portraits of the period that I’ve seen. Curator: Exactly! It's the beauty of the engraving technique. The lack of heavy color lends a subtle air of informality, despite her grand attire. Makes you think – who was she, beyond the portrait? Beyond what society wanted her to be? I get the feeling that, just perhaps, there was someone far more rebellious. Don't you agree? Editor: It’s fascinating how the artist manages to suggest that rebelliousness with such restraint! The tight smile gives it away! Curator: That it does! The piece almost becomes a visual whisper, a secret shared between the artist and the viewer across centuries. Think of what’s concealed within its lines. Delicious. What are your feelings now? Editor: Now, I want to know everything about Mrs. Fitzherbert! And I never thought an engraving could be so emotionally charged.