Portrait of Adolf Fredrik Westerberg c. 18th century

Curator: Adolf Ulric Wertmüller’s delicate pencil drawing, "Portrait of Adolf Fredrik Westerberg", presents a profile view of a man rendered with subtle shading. Editor: It gives the impression of someone caught mid-thought, maybe contemplating whether to order another glass of wine. Curator: The very slight upturn of his nose and firm set to his mouth read as an exercise of restrained authority. Editor: There is a sense of formality, certainly, but the sketch-like quality also makes it accessible. I can almost feel the charcoal dust on my fingertips. Curator: Consider how this image presents eighteenth-century masculinity, and how it engages with power dynamics and social status. Editor: I guess when I look at it, I just feel this strange connection to a person who lived so long ago. Art, huh? Curator: Yes. Art as an entry point to connect across time.