Brustbild einer Frau mit Haube im Profil nach links 

Editor: This is Johann Heinrich Schepp's "Brustbild einer Frau mit Haube im Profil nach links," a portrait drawing in ink, pencil, and graphite, currently housed at the Städel Museum. The woman’s gaze is intense, and I find it somewhat melancholic. What stands out to you in this work? Curator: It is interesting to consider this drawing within the context of gender and representation. During this period, women were often depicted passively, but here, despite the traditional garb, there’s a sense of presence and perhaps defiance. How does the artist's choice to use a profile view affect your perception of the sitter's emotional state? Editor: That's a great point. Seeing her in profile, she appears more contained, but there's a certain strength implied rather than an overt display. Does her clothing or headdress provide additional context about her position in society? Curator: Absolutely. The headdress signifies a certain social class and adherence to societal norms, perhaps a constraint on individual expression. How does this tension between personal identity and social expectation resonate with you in a contemporary context? Editor: It's compelling how the artwork bridges different periods of time. I see that same tension existing for women today, but expressed in other forms of visual presentation. I've definitely learned that appearances can be deceiving and social narratives are deeply embedded. Curator: And this is the beauty of engaging with historical works, right? They encourage us to question and examine the social structures that persist even today.