Isabella – Head study of the Youth 1848

This pencil sketch by Sir John Everett Millais is titled, "Isabella – Head study of the Youth". Millais, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, often explored themes of love, death, and social injustice in his art. This study, seemingly a preparation for a larger work, offers an intimate glimpse into Millais' creative process. The androgynous figure evokes a sense of vulnerability. The Pre-Raphaelites were known for their rejection of industrialization and their embrace of medieval and early Renaissance art. They sought to depict their subjects with intense realism and emotional honesty, often challenging the rigid social norms of Victorian society. The choice to focus on a youthful face might reflect the Pre-Raphaelite's broader interest in themes of innocence and beauty, or perhaps hints to a fascination with the complexities of identity that resonate even today. Millais captures a quiet moment of contemplation, inviting us to reflect on our own perceptions of youth, gender, and identity.