For Wednesday's class, spend a few minutes looking at the picture above--William Hogarth's portrait of Miss Mary Edwards (1740). For Wednesday's class, answer the question that follows in a short paragraph--at least a few sentences. This is practice for the reading responses we'll be writing throughout the semester. You can post your response as a comment to this blog OR you can bring your response to class on Wednesday. The blog is due by class time, however--you can't turn this one in late, since it's a warming-up exercise.
THE RESPONSE: Who do you think this woman is? Not who she is literally, but based on the portrait, what kind of woman is this? Why is she being immortalized in art? What values or ideas does she seem to have or represent? Based on this painting, do you think she's kind? Vain? A good mother? An evil bitch? What kind of clues are scattered throughout the painting to suggest how we might read or understand her?
[Note: Don't look this painting up on-line and try to find the 'right' answer, since there really isn't one. I just want to know how the painting strikes you on a first glance. Looking elsewhere will ruin this for you and for the assignment]
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ReplyDeleteCera Miller- 201054
ReplyDeleteI believe that the woman in the painting is rich and at least nobility in her country- to have a painting as grand as that, she would have had to belong to an important and wealthy family; the dress she is wearing also implies status. The cross on her necklace says she's Christian. She stands out from the back drop since the dress she's wearing is bright red (an eye catching color) and the background, while detailed, is dark; in portraits it is not unusual to have a colorful background, so I think she may be vain, wanting to be the sole focus. To have a dog included in the painting (looks like an English Springer Spaniel) could mean it is her pet or she likes dogs. Then again, maybe she's not good with animals; the dog almost looks like it's curling its lip at her. The lady is wearing a ring on her wedding finger, so she's married. And lastly, I think she is literate since there is a piece of paper beside her with writing on it (or she wants people to think she is literate) and because there is no writing instrument, I do not believe the viewer is supposed to think that it represents something that she wrote.
Excellent clues and descriptions: you've hit on some important themes/ideas in this painting. While some translation is required, your analysis is pretty dead on!
DeleteJonathon Ward
ReplyDeleteI think the woman in the painting is from a family with money. She has beautiful jewelry on. Her necklace has a cross. so she must be a Christian of some kind. She may be a woman from a powerful family, because her dress is very elegant. There is also a letter on top of the desk, this could indicate that she is an educated woman which in this time period is rare. Behind the desk with the letter there is a globe. This could be a sign that she is well traveled or her family is. The background of the painting is very dark making your eye drawn to the woman in the painting. Also the fact that she is wearing red could give us a clue that she is a scandalous woman. The dog in the painting is another clue that her family is wealthy and perhaps they hunt. Spaniels, in that time, were bred to hunt and that is a sign of authority and wealth in a family.
Great responses--particularly the idea that she is learned/well-traveled. And the color red--ah, that's a big clue, isn't it? She's obviously done something...but the question is, does she looked ashamed? :)
DeleteDax Walker
ReplyDeleteI think the women in this painting is a wealthy one. She is covered in nice jewelry not to much mention her nice clothing that she is sporting. Also she seems to be an educated woman, it seems like she was reading some paper before she was interrupted and there is also a big globe in the background and that's not a thing someone would own back then that wasn't well educated. I would also say she's probably a kind person and a good mother. The look on her face is very calm, relaxed, and sort of happy. And she's obviously friendly enough for a dog to want to be around her so that leads me to believe she is a nice lady.
Great responses and connections with the small clues. You, more than anyone, focus on her expression and how much pains Hogarth took on this. We need to connect with her and see her as kind and virtuous in some way, and you explain why we might see this. If we see her as a "good" woman, then it is a slap in the face of a society that refuses to even acknowledge her.
DeleteSammie Smith
ReplyDeleteFrom the portrait above, I believe that this lady is of higher status. Her elegant dress is proof of this. Not only does it appear to be made out of heavy-duty, high quality material, it is also the color red. The color red can symbolize many things, but in this case I believe that it is emphasizes the strong, bold, passionate, confident personality of the lady pictured above. Her jewelry also indicates that she not only is wealthy, but has Christian beliefs valuing religion enough to publicize it around her neck for everyone to see. The lady in the portrait is also wearing a bunch of rings and one happens to be on her ring finger, implying that she must be married. There is also a dog pictured which she seems to be petting. Putting two and two together (the ring and the dog), maybe the woman has a family. Lastly, there is a piece of paper with writing on it. This implies that the lady in the portrait must be highly educated because it looks as if she is in the middle of, or had just got done reading the letter.
Excellent responses: this fine attention to detail helps us see the picture as you see it, particularly the idea that this is a woman of faith, confidence, and power. She's not simply someone's wife or daughter--she is her own person, and means to display this through a portrait. I also like how you view the picture as something painted "in the moment," as if she just finished the letter. It's supposed to look intimate and not artificial, as most paintings of women were at this time.
DeleteAlex Fillat
ReplyDeleteI think the woman in the painting was born in a rich family. The dress and jewelry she's wearing shows that she or her family have money. The necklace with the cross shows that she is Christian and the church in this time were pretty rich too. Being with a dog can mean she likes dogs. I believe she a nice lady and she takes good care of her dog because it seems it wants to be with her. There is a letter on the desk wit something written on it so it means she knows how to write and read that was not common on this time.
Good responses---this is clearly a woman of knowledge and power, as all the little clues attest. The dog is important, because it shows her compassion: we are meant to like her and think of her as a kind person, a good mother. Otherwise, this would be just another rich woman of the eighteenth century.
DeleteCedric Sweet
ReplyDeleteI think this lady comes from money because she has expensive looking jewelry on. I think that she may be a writer because of the letter and the painter put a lot of emphasis on the letter. I think she likes animals because there's a dog in the painting but maybe dogs don't like her, because it looks like it's about to snap at her hand. I think she's educated because it looks like she's wealthy and could afford it. There's a globe in the background, maybe it's a symbol that she likes to travel or maybe it's just a random placed globe. I think she might be a nice lady because she's smiling.
Good connections, particularly with the dog, since not many people saw that the dog could be about the attack her. That would change the picture quite a bit! As you suggest, the letter is clearly an important detail, as it's one of the first things we see in the painting. This is obviously an important part of how we read the woman herself.
DeleteIn the portrait, the woman seems to be from an aristocratic background judging by the letter on her desk. She is at least literate and perhaps wrote the letter herself. Her red dress and smirk might be symbolic to some kind of past, or maybe she has a "brazen" personality as red is often the color of love or passion. This conflicts with the large cross around her neck, which might be alluding to a kind of false devotion. This may also tie into her position in societal circles. To me there is a lot of symbolic conflict in the painting.
ReplyDeleteLeslie Foster
Great connections with the small clues here, all of which play up her character as Hogarth wants us to see it. I like your idea of false devotion, and the possibility of conflict or contradiction in this image. Hogarth is clearly playing this up, since he wants to show that a woman can be virtuous even if no one else in society recognizes her as such.
DeleteMarcos (Laura) Juarez
ReplyDeleteHer clothing indicates a certain time period which I believe to be close to or around the 18th century. Which brings me to believe that the woman is from either a wealthy family or nobility, because to be . The dress is red which back in that time period could stand for adultery (kind of like the scarlet letter.) which leads me to believe that she could be a evil vain bitch because she has possibly committed adultery on her husband (she does have that wring on that certain finger!) She has some very nice jewelry on and one piece of it is a cross necklace which could mean that she is a Roman Catholic. The dog that is in the picture with her looks like a English Springer Spaniel indicates to me that it is more than likely a family dog for the men because these dogs are used for hunting purposes. The piece of paper that is laying on the table next to her shows that she might be that she is literate in English or she is trying to prove to people that see the picture that she is at least.
Good reading--there is some 'sin' involved from the red dress, so it's hard not to assume adultery or something truly awful. Very sharp eye for detail, particularly with the dog and the letter. Keep doing this on your future responses!
DeleteBreanna Stone
ReplyDeleteI cant really tell where this woman is exactly but if i had to take a guess i would say this is a woman who is wealthy judging by her clothes and jewelry. Also spotted is some rings on her married finger so she is newly wed to a very old ill man, reading a letter from the doctors telling her he has passed. The smirk on her face looks as if shes almost not sad about it because the day she has been waiting for has finally came. She will inherit all of his money and everything else he owns. The poor dog doesn't know what is going on so he is sitting patiently by her side hoping his owner returns.
Ha--I like the story you make up here, that she's waiting for her old husband to die. It was actually quite common for a young woman to marry a very old, wealthy man, so you;'re not far off. I like how this plays into her smirk as well. This could be the basis for an entire story or movie! Well done.
DeleteSrijita Ghosh
ReplyDeleteThis portrait at a first glance suggests to me that the woman is a kind hearted and gentle one. She is absolutely not an 'evil' or malicious type of person. I feel so because mainly because of the look on her face. The eyes and smile clearly suggest so. And also by the way she is seen resting her hand on the dog's head indicates that she is a kind-hearted woman, since we know that people who are kind to animals are more likely to be a kind person themself. She also seems to belong to an aristocrat and rich family bearing a high social status. This assumption is derived from the type of clothes and jewellery she is wearing and the room she is sitting in. Finally, she looks like an educated lady. The letter beside her and also the look of maturity on her face suggests so. There is a bit of suspense and contradiction in the picture, for example the dog. The lady is seen resting her hand on the dog's head with kindness but the dog's attitude is not the same, instead it actually has a ferocious and unpleasant look on it's face. Also, the way the letter is placed on the table makes me feel that it is either an unfinished one (if she was writing it) or a one which gave some kind of suprising news to the lad due to which she left is in that manner on the table.
Excellent responses--I didn't even think about the ferocity of the dog, which could really change the picture! Even if this isn't what Hogarth intended, it shows that every small detail can lead to a different reading, and a different 'woman' in the picture. T his is very well done!
DeleteI don't have any idea who is this woman she seems a kind of good looking woman she has to be important because she is on a picture, also she wears a beatufiul dress, she must be reach woman.
ReplyDeleteAlberto Lapiedra
Good start, but try to read a bit more into it: look for the small clues and try to have fun with answering the question. Don't give up too easily!
DeleteAshley Rinner
ReplyDeleteI think this woman is a kind woman. Her facial expression is very gentle and relaxed. Not a full smile, but a grin of sorts. She has a dog with her who she is petting in a loving way. She is a religious woman, she wears a cross. Also educated, as shown by the scripts on her desk. She is most likely of a wealthy family based on two things, one she is having her portrait done, which most could not afford or have reason to need one, and also the intricate jewelry and dress. She is probably a queen, as she is married. I can see the ring on her left hand in the place a wedding ring would go, and also the feel of high society that comes from her. One thing that I've learned in other classes is about the importance of the clothing color. It could mean royalty, or be about bloodshed. She may be using this painting as a type of positive propaganda for her subjects, showing how nice she is and how even animals love her. She seems kind, but perhaps there is more to her than we see.
Great response: I like how you focus on the facial features and her jewelry/clothing, all of which have symbolic importance. I like the idea of propaganda, too, since that's sort of how Hogarth meant it to be used. He wanted to influence our view of a woman who had definitely fallen out of favor.
DeleteMadelyn Lehr
ReplyDeleteThe painting of this woman suggests that she is from an upper class family, or has married into wealth due to the ring on her finger, but the objects in the background such as the globe and statue show that she is wealthy. The dress she is wearing looks very expensive that suggest she is wealthy also. The cross necklace shows her religion is Christianity. The paper next to her lets you know that she is educated. Her expression seems to be happy and content, and her hand on the dogs head shows she likes animals.
Great responses: these small clues, particularly the globe, the dog, and the letter, all show her as a woman of power, confidence, and learning. Not typical for women of this time!
DeleteKarie Neville
ReplyDeleteShe appears to be a wealthy woman based on all of the jewelry she is wearing. She has a very nice gown on which also displays her wealth. She appears to be literate based on the letter by hand. She appears to have a loving disposition based on her facial expression and affection for the dog. She is either a Christian or Catholic based on the cross necklace. There are several busts in the background and also a globe, which is another sign of wealth. I would say she is a either a queen, married to a lord, or her family is very wealthy.
Excellent connections with the small details in the painting--as you suggest, it all helps us understand who she is, and your suggestion that she is a queen is not far off. Hogarth wanted us to see her as a kind of monarch despite her "fallen" status.
DeleteChaz Sanders
ReplyDeleteI would say this woman is in the ruling class. The paper next to her indicates to me that she has written some legislation or at least passed a law or decree. I would say that she is some kind of Christian, most likely Catholic based on the cross necklace. The busts on the wall behind her seem to indicate that she comes from a family that was well known. She seems to me to portray kindness, but something about the eyes and set of her mouth indicate a sense of condescension. That suggests to me that she is used to being in power, and she might abuse it. Another indication of wealth and nobility is the dog, along with the clothes. She seems like a woman who is a master of herself, and doesn't submit to people, and that she usually gets her way.
Excellent responses, even if you saw more darkness in her features (which really could be there!). Glad you shared so much in class today; it really helped!
DeleteThis portrait is so soft and subtle. The lady looks very quaint yet confident in who she is. Her smile shares something peaceful about her, and her jewelry symbolizes religion. But what I enjoy picturing is her in her own small nook of the palace(for it seems she is of a royal family), and this nook is her study. She has a paper next to her and then a globe behind her which I would like to say means she is an educated woman that enjoys being independent with her fur friend!
ReplyDeleteGreat observations--you're definitely on the right track here!
DeleteThis woman's slight smile indicates that she is at ease. She appears to be very kind, and her body language states that she is relaxed, or comfortable where she is. Her decadent dress, and large necklace, even the multiple rings on her hands show that she is a woman of wealth, or status. The dog (to me) indicates that she is a woman of good character. But that may just be what the artist wants you to think... The papers next to her could be anything, a love letter, a law or decree. There are a lot of them, though and that says she is well educated, along with the globe behind her. The architectural beauty in the background indicate she is possibly in a palace? She is very comfortable there. The lighting in the room could either be because of the time she is from, or poossibly because she slipped away quietly to write the paper next to her? It brings up a lot of questions, and it's kind of fun to study someone without knowing a thing about them.
ReplyDeletejudging by what she's wearing, the rings and necklace, i personally would assume that she's a wealthy woman. considering this painting is from 1740. she also must be religious, considering the cross necklace. assuming she has no kids, because she's petting a dog in the painting. with the smile in her face and the look in her eye, you can tell that she's a nice woman. i don't think most paintings in that era showed much emotion.
ReplyDelete