Figuurstudie van een vrouw in klassiek gewaad, frontaal 1769

Hendrik Hoogers made this chalk drawing of a woman in classical garb sometime in the late 18th century. During this period, the Dutch Republic was in decline, and there was a yearning for the perceived virtues of classical antiquity. Hoogers’ figure embodies this Neoclassical spirit with her idealized form and draped clothing. Yet, her downcast gaze suggests a certain interiority, a contrast to the stoic virtue often associated with classical figures. Is this a representation of a goddess or a mortal woman? The woman's identity remains ambiguous. The drawing invites us to consider the complex ways in which gender, class, and history intersect in the visual arts. As we contemplate this figure, let us reflect on the narratives we construct around femininity and the gaze through which we view the past.