Girl getting cold 1898

Editor: This bronze sculpture, “Girl Getting Cold,” was created by Nikolaos Gyzis in 1898. There's such a delicate yet vulnerable feel to it. Her posture suggests she's trying to ward off the chill. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: Well, considering the period, it's vital to examine the societal expectations placed on women, especially young girls, at the time. Gyzis, having witnessed significant shifts in Greek society, might be commenting on the precarity and lack of protection afforded to young women. Note the title; "getting cold". Not freezing, not stricken, but in process, right? Editor: Right, it implies a continued, ongoing experience, and even possibly one the viewer may have also felt themselves! That adds another layer. The pose does feel very self-protective, almost a shrinking. Curator: Exactly! This shrinking becomes a symbol, a public declaration if you will, of a state of being affected by exteriority. Who is it affected by? Editor: The male dominated society, perhaps? She seems quite isolated and the cool material exacerbates her isolation from community. Curator: Precisely. Furthermore, the medium itself—bronze—which has historical associations with strength and power, is used here to depict vulnerability. This juxtaposition might be a conscious effort by Gyzis to critique those established patriarchal values by rendering their presumed strength as…well, coldness. Does that give you more to think about? Editor: Definitely! I didn’t think about the societal context of vulnerability and strength when looking at this artwork, so understanding his position during these cultural shifts sheds new light on the statue's interpretation. Thanks. Curator: And thanks to you. Examining art, after all, is a joint process of re-thinking and feeling and imagining a new society of viewers for the object!