Figure with Head Scarf 1890 - 1905

Simeon Solomon created this watercolor, chalk, and gouache drawing, "Figure with Head Scarf," likely in England during the latter half of the 19th century. Solomon was part of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, a group of artists who rejected academic art traditions and sought to revive the style of early Italian Renaissance painting. But Solomon was also an outsider, as a Jewish and openly homosexual man in Victorian England. The androgynous figure here is typical of Solomon, whose art often explored themes of gender and sexuality that challenged the rigid social norms of his time. The headscarf is a motif frequently found in his work. Solomon's art invites us to consider how cultural and personal identity intersect and how art can question dominant social values. To understand Solomon's art fully, we need to delve into the Pre-Raphaelite movement, the social history of Victorian England, and the artist's biography. These resources help us interpret art within its specific historical and social contexts.