Female Heads in Profile 

John Marin made this drawing of female heads in profile, on paper, sometime during his career. Marin came of age as an artist in the early 20th century, a time of great social and political change that questioned traditional gender roles, particularly regarding women. With its sparse lines, this work embodies a casualness that belies traditional portraiture, evoking the feeling of quick sketches dashed off in a moment. The women are presented in profile, a classic pose, yet there is also a modern sense of movement and a departure from the static, posed images of the past. Are we looking at studies of one woman, or different women, perhaps representing an interest in exploring female identity? By rendering the women with such simplicity, Marin avoids idealization, which allows us, as viewers, to engage with the drawing on a more personal level. We are invited to contemplate the individual stories and experiences of the women depicted, and perhaps even to see a reflection of ourselves in their faces.