Vrouw met hoed en een kers in haar mond 1894 - 1945

Editor: So here we have Alfred Ost’s "Woman with hat and a cherry in her mouth", created sometime between 1894 and 1945. It's a graphite and pencil drawing on paper. What strikes me is the playful nature of the composition, almost a caricature. How do you interpret the drawing, looking at it from your perspective? Curator: Indeed. From a formalist viewpoint, notice the confident lines that delineate the woman's form. Ost uses a relatively sparse number of lines, and minimal shading to articulate volume. Observe how the density of the lines create shadows which add structure to the woman's face. Note, particularly, how the concentration of line and shade around the eyes give an emotional tenor to the drawing, despite the exaggeration. Editor: That makes me notice the eyes more. The upward gaze creates an intriguing sense of aspiration, don’t you think? How does that relate to the other aspects of the portrait? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the open mouth, and placement of the cherry, interact with that upward gaze. Does the open mouth create a sense of longing, or expectation? The cherry, dangling teasingly above her tongue suggests unfulfilled desires. Note, too, that the relatively sketch-like, seemingly unfinished quality of the rendering could suggest her status as merely an archetype. Editor: Interesting. I hadn't considered the sketch-like quality to be meaningful in that way, I assumed that it was more about style. Curator: Well, style always bears some meaning. So what do you see as the effect of this style? Editor: I see how the linework adds dynamism to the woman, creating a sense of spontaneity and immediacy. I hadn’t connected the gaze and the cherry earlier but now, considering Ost's use of composition, it is thought provoking. Thank you for offering a different perspective. Curator: And thank you, too. This piece presents itself with seeming forthrightness but rewards more careful, deliberate consideration.