Figure Studies: Woman Carrying a Basket; Woman Carrying a Vase, and Woman Seated at a Table 1565 - 1608

Francesco Curia created "Figure Studies: Woman Carrying a Basket; Woman Carrying a Vase, and Woman Seated at a Table," using pen and brown ink with brown wash, heightened with white, over traces of black chalk in the late 16th or early 17th century. The artwork consists of sketches which offer a glimpse into the social and cultural conventions of Curia's time, particularly regarding gender roles. As we can see, women are depicted performing domestic tasks like carrying items, indicating the types of labor often associated with women. The figures could be viewed as representations of ideals or archetypes rather than individualized portraits, embodying a sense of timelessness. While Curia's drawings reflect the traditional roles assigned to women, they also capture a sense of their physical presence and strength. The composition and style suggests a sense of movement, drawing the viewer into the daily lives of these women and inviting reflection on the experiences of women during the Renaissance era.