The portrait of Phyllis Curtain, Branford’s first female college master, hangs in the dining hall. The portrait, represents a departure from the typical portraits of white men that tend to hang on the dining hall walls. I admire the step toward gender equality that the portrait represents. In depicting Curtain in black and white, I believe the artist has focused the attention solely on her gender rather than the numerous details that one may focus on if the painting were in color.
I don’t think I’ve ever noticed this portrait before, but this post has now made me want to look for it. It is so unique because it’s devoid of color, but I agree that it makes a statement and allows people to focus on the gender of the subject and what that means in the context of Yale’s history as opposed to being distracted by the use of color and other complexities.
This portrait feels commanding even in a tiny image on a computer screen. I feel like I have never noticed it in person but will definitely look out for it in Branford in the future.