Egyptian Head with Falcon, after a sculpture (?) c. 20th century

Editor: This drawing, "Egyptian Head with Falcon," by Hardesty Gilmore Maratta, depicts a profile overlaid with geometric shapes. It's delicate, almost ephemeral. What do you see in it? Curator: The superimposition of geometric shapes onto the Egyptian subject makes me consider the West’s historical tendency to dissect and categorize cultures deemed "other." Do the overlaid shapes reflect a desire to control or understand a culture viewed as mysterious or ancient? Editor: So, the drawing is not just a study, but a commentary on cultural appropriation? Curator: Potentially. Maratta lived and worked during a period when Western interest in Egyptology was high. What does it mean to represent such a potent image with these shapes? It’s worth considering. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about, the drawing is much more complex than it seems!