Head of a Young Woman in a Blue Hat 

Editor: Here we have "Head of a Young Woman in a Blue Hat" by Susanna Duncombe. It's small, like a miniature. What strikes me is the simplicity of the sketch; what do you make of it? Curator: Ah, yes, a fleeting glimpse! It reminds me of catching sight of someone intriguing in a crowded room. Duncombe captures a sense of ephemeral beauty, doesn't she? The blue hat anchors the image, while the rest feels like a whispered suggestion. What does that blue evoke for you? Editor: I suppose the blue gives it some prominence! It's such a quick sketch, though, I wonder what Duncombe was trying to convey, or not convey. Curator: Perhaps the very act of observing and recording was enough. These glimpses, these quick sketches, often reveal more about the artist's inner world than grand, labored portraits. We find beauty in the everyday, don't we? Editor: That's lovely, I hadn't thought of it that way before.