Three Men Seated at Table (recto); Woman Being Crowned by Female Attendant (verso) c. 1700

This drawing of three men at a table on one side, and a woman being crowned on the other, was made with graphite and white chalk on blue paper. It’s tough to pin down the exact moment it was created, and even who created it, leaving much open to interpretation. Consider how the figures are presented. The men seem to be caught in a moment of discussion, perhaps strategizing or negotiating, while the crowned woman embodies power and authority. Yet, this idealized image exists on the reverse side of the same sheet. It makes you wonder if this juxtaposition is an intentional statement about the roles and expectations assigned to different genders. Without knowing the artist's identity, we're invited to consider broader questions about representation, power, and gender dynamics. Think about what these images mean to you.