Sitting woman (Gretchen_) c. 1811

Peter Cornelius created this drawing of a seated woman, "Gretchen," with graphite on paper. The composition immediately presents us with a delicate arrangement of forms. The light graphite lines barely emerge from the blank paper, creating a subtle interplay between presence and absence. The figure is tentatively sketched, as if Cornelius is coaxing her into existence. We can discern a figure, but it's through a network of almost invisible lines, which coalesce to give the impression of a seated woman. This drawing is not about capturing a likeness, but rather about the very act of seeing and representing. The emphasis on line and form over detail destabilizes traditional notions of portraiture, inviting us to consider how meaning is constructed through the most minimal of means. The drawing challenges our expectations, prompting us to question the boundaries between representation and abstraction, presence and absence.