A Donkey Tied in a Graveyard c. 19th century

Editor: So, this is "A Donkey Tied in a Graveyard" by Joseph Fussell. The contrast between the donkey’s vitality and the stillness of death creates an unsettling mood. What narrative do you see unfolding here? Curator: I see a commentary on the burdens placed upon the marginalized. The donkey, a beast of burden, is tethered even in a space of supposed rest. The graveyard, filled with symbols of mortality, becomes a space of continued oppression. Editor: Oppression, even in death? Curator: Exactly. Who benefits from the donkey’s labor? Who rests easily in those graves? Fussell may be suggesting a critique of societal structures that perpetuate inequality beyond the grave. What does the death of the lamb suggest to you? Editor: It highlights the cycle, perhaps? A constant exploitation. I hadn’t thought about it that way before. Curator: Art often forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about power and privilege. This piece invites us to consider who bears the weight of society's expectations, even in death.