Bust Portrait of a Woman In Profile 

Curator: Susanna Duncombe, born in 1725, created this delicate pencil drawing titled "Bust Portrait of a Woman In Profile," now held in the Tate Collections. Editor: There's a quiet intensity in her gaze, and the soft shading gives the piece a dreamy, almost ethereal quality. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the role of women artists in the 18th century; Duncombe had to navigate very specific social expectations to even pursue her art. Editor: This portrait subtly challenges those norms. The directness of the gaze, the lack of embellishment – it’s a statement of individual presence. Curator: It also makes me think about the limited freedom available to women in the field of art. The support measures a mere 105 x 90 mm. Editor: A reminder of the constraints within which women historically produced their work, perhaps. It's a powerful study in quiet defiance. Curator: Indeed, looking at this drawing today allows us to reflect on the persistent fight for equality within the art world.