The Foundling 1852

Editor: This is "The Foundling" by George Bernard O'Neill, housed here at the Tate. It's a somber piece; the light feels trapped, almost like the poor infant at the center. What strikes you most about this scene? Curator: It whispers stories of Victorian society, doesn’t it? I imagine O'Neill, with his sentimental heart, felt the chill of indifference towards these vulnerable children. See how the figures are arranged. Does the artist intend to make us feel complicit in their judgement? Editor: Complicit? I hadn't thought of it that way! Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe, he hoped to prick our conscience, making us consider the weight of compassion in a world often too busy to care. Editor: It's definitely given me a lot to think about. Curator: Exactly! Art that makes you question... that's art that lingers.