Head of a Woman c. 1859 - 1860

William Rimmer, an American artist and physician, sculpted this Head of a Woman in stone, though its precise date remains unknown. Rimmer's background in medicine deeply informed his artistic practice. He was particularly interested in anatomy and the human form, which is evident in the careful detailing of this sculpture. Made in the 19th century, the work fits into the broader Neoclassical movement, which looked back to ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. The bust form itself is a classical reference, often used to commemorate important figures. However, Rimmer's interpretation is unique. The woman's expression and the texture of the stone give the piece a raw, emotional quality, setting it apart from the idealized portrayals common in Neoclassical art. To fully understand this piece, we might turn to Rimmer's writings, medical texts of the time, and analyses of 19th-century American art and culture. Only then we may better appreciate how Rimmer both embraced and challenged the artistic conventions of his time.