A Young Woman, Full Length, with Her Left Arm Outstretched 1770

This drawing of a young woman was made with pen and brown wash by Paul Sandby, likely sometime in the late 18th century. Sandby was a key figure in the institutionalization of art in Britain. He was a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768, and promoted the genre of landscape through his prints and drawings. This image, however, presents us with a figure study. The woman's dress and hat suggest a working-class status, and her outstretched arm and the object in her other hand imply some kind of action or exchange. Such images were popular during the period, reflecting the social and economic changes that came with urbanization and the rise of a market economy. Understanding Sandby's work requires attention to the art market, the rise of the Royal Academy, and the changing representation of social classes. Research into the period will help to contextualize his images.