Portrait of Pearl White 1920

Rolf Armstrong captured Pearl White with pastels, conjuring an echo of the ages, a face that speaks of beauty, yes, but also of something more. Her smile, framed by those ruby lips, isn't just an expression; it's a modern incarnation of the archaic smile we see on ancient Greek statues. Think of the ‘Archaic Smile’ from the classical world – a signifier of vitality, of life beyond mere existence. Over centuries this expression, once adorning gods and heroes, has been democratized, now gracing the visage of a screen siren. This isn't mere coincidence but a haunting reminder of the past made present, a constant and continuous act of re-appropriation. The smile is more than meets the eye, engaging our subconscious with its display of controlled euphoria. Armstrong has tapped into our collective memory to resonate with an emotional state that transcends time.