Portrait of a Woman 

Curator: This is Portrait of a Woman, created by an artist from the British School. The artwork is undated and measures 400 by 285 millimeters. Editor: It strikes me as quite poised, almost austere, despite the softness of the pastel medium and the frankly enormous wig! Curator: Indeed. The wig itself speaks volumes about the social structures of the time. Consider the labor involved in creating and maintaining such a style, and the materials sourced. Editor: Precisely. The wig becomes a symbol, then, of status, of aspiration, even power. It's a visual shorthand for belonging to a particular elite. Curator: And the woman's direct gaze—does it challenge or uphold that symbolic order? Is she complicit in the performance, or subtly undermining it? Editor: I think there's a knowingness there, a hint of self-awareness. She's not just wearing the wig; she's inhabiting it, and perhaps even questioning it. Curator: A fascinating tension to consider as we contemplate the work. Editor: Absolutely, a lot more going on than meets the eye at first!