Head of a Young Girl in Profile 1705 - 1793

Editor: So, here we have Louis Marin Bonnet’s “Head of a Young Girl in Profile,” made sometime between 1705 and 1793. It’s an engraving, currently hanging at the Met. It feels...delicate, almost like a fleeting memory. What whispers to you when you look at this print? Curator: Whispers, precisely! I'm immediately drawn to the ephemeral nature, amplified by the medium itself. Engraving, you see, can capture such intricate detail, almost like bottling a dream. And consider the context, the Rococo period. This wasn't just portraiture, it was capturing essence, a fleeting moment of grace, the fashionable ideal. Does her expression evoke any specific feeling for you? Editor: Definitely innocence, maybe even a hint of melancholy. It's in the downturn of her lips, and the way the light catches her eye. Curator: Ah, the play of light! Notice how Bonnet masterfully uses it to sculpt her face, almost as if she's emerging from a hazy dreamscape. And that hairstyle! Those curls seem to defy gravity, a statement of aristocratic leisure. It's a world away from our hurried selfies, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely! It’s carefully posed and presented, every detail contributing to a desired image. Almost manufactured, I suppose? Curator: Manufactured...perhaps, though I might say "carefully curated" feels more apt, don't you think? What a captivating glimpse into the past, this “Head of a Young Girl”. I learned something today. Editor: I agree, the word choice definitely impacts our perception! I’ll consider this framing in my next visit to the museum, for sure!