A Woman's Head 18th-19th century

Curator: Look closely at "A Woman's Head," a drawing by Thomas Rowlandson. It's currently held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The quickness of the strokes make it look like the artist was working against a deadline. She looks agitated—almost as if she's about to bite. Curator: Rowlandson was a master of social satire, using pen and ink to depict the eccentricities of 18th-century British life. One can imagine her as a fishmonger, haggling over the price of the daily catch. Editor: The materials—paper, ink, and watercolor—were all relatively inexpensive and widely available, making mass production of such images possible. Curator: I imagine the artist sketching her quickly in a tavern, catching the precise grimace that tells a whole story. Editor: Yes, the materiality speaks to a broader culture of accessible images. It’s interesting how those factors can influence our perception of the subject herself. Curator: Indeed. It’s like she’s winking through time.