Portrait of a Young Girl In Profile to the Left, within a Drawn Oval 

Curator: Here we have Susanna Duncombe's "Portrait of a Young Girl In Profile to the Left, within a Drawn Oval," a tiny treasure at just 93 by 76 millimeters, residing in the Tate collection. Editor: She's quite striking, isn’t she? There's a delicate sadness to her expression, a kind of wistful gaze. The oval almost feels like a frame holding a fleeting memory. Curator: Absolutely, the oval isolates her, creating an emblem of youthful contemplation. It feels very much of its time, a captured likeness meant for intimate viewing. Editor: The flowers adorning her hair also hint at the transience of beauty, the way youth itself is like a blooming, then fading, thing. And there is an inscription... something about light and shade? Curator: Yes, Duncombe inscribed the drawing, declaring how the subject's head "performs the light and shade." It adds a layer of personal intimacy, suggesting the artist's deep affection for her subject. Editor: It speaks of a unique bond, a captured moment of beauty, imbued with both light and shadow. I wonder what the story is there, and if the artist was truly happy with the likeness. Curator: It's these little mysteries that make it so appealing, isn't it? A glimpse into a bygone era through a very personal lens. Editor: Indeed, a small window into a much larger world, filled with untold stories and unspoken emotions.