Head of a Woman, for "Belshazzar's Feast" c. 1829

Editor: This is Washington Allston's "Head of a Woman, for 'Belshazzar's Feast'," at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a red chalk drawing, quite small. What strikes me is her calm expression, almost detached. What can you tell me about her gaze? Curator: Her gaze is averted, yes. It speaks to a deeper, perhaps prophetic, understanding. Allston was deeply interested in the sublime, the intersection of awe and terror. Does her averted gaze suggest knowledge of impending doom, resonating with the biblical story? Editor: That's fascinating. So, the averted gaze isn't just a stylistic choice, but loaded with meaning? Curator: Precisely. It's a visual symbol, deeply embedded in cultural memory, connecting personal emotion with historical narrative. What do you feel now, knowing this? Editor: I see a weight of history in her eyes now, not just a calm detachment. Curator: Exactly, a cultural weight. This small drawing carries such meaning.