Portrait of Betty Joste 1916

Editor: This is "Portrait of Betty Joste" by Harrison Fisher, a pastel and pencil drawing from 1916. It feels very soft and romantic, and the subject’s downward gaze gives it a wistful mood. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Indeed. That downward gaze and delicate rendering point to a deeper current. Notice how Fisher uses the profile view, reminiscent of ancient cameos or Renaissance portraiture, instantly imbuing Betty Joste with a sense of timeless beauty, elevating her to an idealized figure. Consider, too, how this image was created during the First World War. Editor: I hadn’t thought of that. Curator: Might this pose and those wistful eyes symbolize not just beauty, but a sort of…yearning, perhaps even loss? The romantic style, the focus on individual emotion... could these be ways of grappling with the anxieties and disruptions of the era, a turn inward towards sentimentality amidst global turmoil? What emotional weight do you think her hair carries? Editor: The soft waves and dark color create a sense of enveloping melancholy. Curator: Exactly. That dark wave, the almost symbolic weight of the hair...it contributes to the portrait's overall feeling of subdued emotion, something that resonates beyond its aesthetic appeal and connects to the deeper anxieties of its time. Thank you for considering that; you made me see so much more here. Editor: And I better appreciate the symbolism; it feels like more than just a pretty picture now.