Figurehead c. 1937

Elizabeth Moutal made this watercolor entitled Figurehead sometime in the 20th century. The image depicts a ship’s figurehead: a female bust adorns the prow of a sailing vessel. These carvings were a common feature of ships, especially in the age of sail, serving as emblems of identity. What I find interesting here is the intersection of maritime culture and the representation of women. Ships, historically crewed by men, often bore female figures as symbols. This speaks to the symbolic roles women played in society, often as objects of beauty or representations of abstract ideas like liberty or fortune, rather than active participants in the seafaring world. This image presents a female figurehead, a common motif in maritime history, inviting us to consider the gendered symbolism inherent in maritime culture. To understand this artwork more fully, one could delve into historical records of shipbuilding, maritime art, and gender studies. Understanding the artist's background and intentions would also provide valuable insights.