Untitled (Alleyway with View of a Harbor) c. 1885

This is Blanche Dillaye's etching, "Untitled (Alleyway with View of a Harbor)." Dillaye, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, existed in a society that often sidelined women artists. Here, Dillaye pulls us into a narrow, gritty alleyway, a space often overlooked. The architecture looms above, framing a distant view of a harbor, hinting at the world beyond, a world of trade, travel and perhaps even escape. Dillaye seems to be developing an alternative narrative, choosing the back alley instead of the grand facade. The textures are palpable, the rough stone, the worn wood; you can almost feel the dampness of the air. This isn't just a visual representation; it's an experience. The location, the anonymous alleyway is a reminder that women artists can find beauty and meaning in the overlooked, shaping our perceptions and inviting us to see value in unexpected places.