Brustbild einer Frau nach links 

Victor Müller created this sketch of a woman in profile, rendered in pencil, sometime in the mid-19th century. The image gives us an intimate glimpse into the visual culture of the time, and the ways in which women were both seen and unseen. Müller lived through a period of profound social change, including the rise of feminist movements that challenged traditional gender roles. While this sketch presents a conventional, idealized image of feminine beauty, the woman’s gaze and posture suggest a complex inner life. Her eyes are cast downwards, which could be interpreted as demure, or perhaps as a sign of introspection. This tension between surface appearance and deeper emotion asks us to consider the limitations and possibilities within the visual representation of women during this time. How does she feel? What are her thoughts? What is her personal history? Although these questions remain unanswered, it is the mere fact that they arise that is perhaps the most important aspect of this work.