Euterpe (Personification of Music) 1569 - 1573

Editor: So, this drawing is "Euterpe (Personification of Music)" by Friedrich Sustris, created sometime between 1569 and 1573. It feels like a study for a larger work. The figure is elegant, but her gaze is sort of melancholy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on the role of women in the arts, even then. Note how Euterpe, the muse of music, is both idealized and burdened. The weight of her lyre, almost like a cross, seems to press down on her. Consider how during the Renaissance, artistic patronage, particularly from women, shaped cultural production. Editor: So, her almost sad expression might hint at those limitations women artists faced? Curator: Precisely. Think about Sofonisba Anguissola, or Lavinia Fontana – women who navigated male-dominated art world. Sustris here, through Euterpe's gaze, hints at those social constraints while celebrating music. Look at the architectural sketchiness behind her, not quite solidifying. Do you think it’s a study? Editor: Yes, and the way it doesn’t seem 'finished' makes me consider the incomplete story of women in music and art history. Thanks, it's changed how I interpret the piece entirely. Curator: Absolutely. These drawings allow us to imagine history as mutable. Thinking about how we can fill the missing spaces to create a more representative, holistic picture.