Mrs. Jordan in the Character of the Country Girl 1788

Curator: This is John Ogborne's print, "Mrs. Jordan in the Character of the Country Girl." Editor: She seems poised between innocence and something else—almost like she’s stepping into a new role, a performance. Curator: Indeed. It’s a portrayal of the actress Dorothy Jordan in a role, playing a country girl. The hands clasped in front of her like that are conventions used to convey piety. Editor: Yet, the theatrical backdrop and her direct gaze complicate that image. This makes me think about the way women, particularly actresses, were perceived and often sexualized in society at the time. Curator: And how they used these conventions to navigate it. Editor: Right. It speaks to the tensions between performance and identity, especially for women in the public eye. The performative nature of femininity. Curator: It certainly gives us a lot to consider. Editor: Absolutely. A complex image, not just a pretty portrait.