Portret van Marie Louise van Wallersee Possibly 1880 - 1884

Curator: This is an intriguing portrait of Marie Louise von Wallersee, potentially dating from between 1880 and 1884. It is rendered in coloured pencil. Editor: It possesses an almost theatrical air. The composition seems rigidly formal, yet her expression holds a hint of melancholy. Curator: I'm particularly interested in the application of the coloured pencils. Note how the strokes delineate the texture of the fabrics—the weight of the skirt, the intricate embroidery. This hints at a careful engagement with representing status and social position through material detail. Editor: The embroidery indeed calls my attention. Notice how those motifs around her chest almost suggest heraldic emblems, but the more I observe the costume, it gives an effect of folkloric symbolism; it blends a crafted national identity and perhaps signals regional allegiance. The way she's holding that sort of miniature riding crop… It is performative class, absolutely. Curator: And speaking of class performance, we need to acknowledge the labour involved in producing garments such as these. Someone, or most likely several someones, dedicated hours upon hours to its construction, to allow for her look to have the maximum political affect, in a very tangible sense. Editor: Absolutely! The riding crop reads to me as almost like a sceptre, indicating authority but the choice of having the persona pose next to decorative moldings creates another meaning that alludes to royalty. The soft focus around the edges of the pencil rendering softens the image too. It lends her this ethereal sort of air despite how formal everything else feels around her. Curator: It’s also worth remembering how this kind of representation, disseminated perhaps through printed copies, could shape perceptions and consumption. This becomes accessible when remembering it is not rendered with oil, or watercolour. With a medium like colored pencils it allows for access to create at many social positions, as colored pencils are far more cost-effective in creating political power, as opposed to other mediums. Editor: Fascinating how it condenses cultural memory, blending symbols of identity and influence so seamlessly. Curator: Indeed. A potent reminder that every aesthetic choice holds implications. Editor: It's definitely broadened my understanding of visual signalling in this period.