Figure of a Woman c. 20th century

Editor: This is "Figure of a Woman," a drawing at the Harvard Art Museums, attributed to an imitator of Modigliani. It's a simple, almost melancholic sketch. What stands out to you? Curator: The attribution is key, isn't it? It forces us to consider authenticity and the market forces that shape art history. How does viewing it as an imitation shift our understanding of its representation of the female form, particularly in relation to Modigliani's legacy and its complex relationship to cultural appropriation? Editor: I never thought about it that way. Curator: Consider the power dynamics at play: who gets to create, whose bodies are represented, and who profits? Editor: That’s something to consider. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It's a reminder that art doesn't exist in a vacuum.