Portrait of a Young Woman n.d.

This drawing, "Portrait of a Young Woman," was made with black and white chalk on brown paper by an anonymous artist. The lack of attribution is a good starting point for historical inquiry. Throughout much of European history, art production was organized through workshops and academies. Artists trained in a master's style, and sometimes the individual hand was lost. This drawing might have been a preparatory sketch, or the work of a student. Consider the fashion of the sitter, which can help us to locate the image in time. Dresses of this period featured a high collar and modest adornment. It may have been made in France. By researching costume, print culture, and the history of art institutions, we can begin to unravel the mystery of this engaging portrait.