Side View of the Head and Shoulders of a Woman Wearing a Tall Comb 1832 - 1835

Curator: Washington Allston’s pencil sketch, "Side View of the Head and Shoulders of a Woman Wearing a Tall Comb," is a delicate study. It feels unfinished, yet intimate. Editor: I'm struck by the economical use of line. You can almost feel the pressure of the pencil on the paper, the artist's hand moving quickly to capture the essence of the subject. Curator: The comb especially is fascinating. Its height suggests a particular era, a cultural fascination with elevated hairstyles, symbols of status and aspiration. Editor: And it’s such a simple comb, yet it transforms the whole figure. What materials would have been used for such a comb, and how accessible would it have been? Curator: It invites questions about the sitter herself, her identity veiled yet hinted at. The artist seems to focus on the emotional weight such styles carry. Editor: Yes, Allston’s choice to render this woman in such a modest medium shifts our focus. The art lies not in opulent display, but in the making. Curator: It’s a beautiful reminder that even simple sketches can hold immense cultural and psychological depth. Editor: I agree; it reveals how materials and making are tied to memory.