Woman in 17th-Century Costume c. 19th century

Curator: Welcome. Here we have Ernest Meissonier’s drawing, "Woman in 17th-Century Costume," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Mmm, it’s quite ghostly, isn’t it? A flash of silk and shadow… almost feels like she’s fading away. Curator: Indeed. Meissonier, born in 1815, was renowned for his historical genre paintings. This piece, though undated, reflects his meticulous attention to detail, particularly in rendering clothing. Editor: I’m curious, what does it tell us about 17th-century perceptions of women, or even Meissonier’s own views, do you think? Was he romanticizing or critiquing? Curator: It’s more a study, I believe, less about making a statement on gender roles, and more about his fascination with historical accuracy. It’s a rehearsal for another, larger composition. Editor: Perhaps. Still, I sense a certain melancholic distance about her. A fleeting presence, caught in a moment. Curator: Perhaps we are projecting our own anxieties onto her, seeing what we want to see, through the prism of contemporary social critique. Editor: Isn’t that the joy of art?