Sketchbook ("Banners") Possibly 1880

Curator: This is Edward Burne-Jones's sketchbook, titled "Banners." Editor: It looks incredibly unassuming. That texture—it speaks of age and use, almost like aged linen. Curator: Indeed. The raw materiality directs our gaze. It is, in itself, an object about process. We see the unadorned cloth cover, the faded lettering, the rough-cut paper label affixed to it. Editor: All those textural qualities speak to its history and function; you imagine it being carried around, filled and emptied over time. Curator: Precisely, the artist's engagement with his tools, the very means of production, are laid bare. Editor: Well, it makes me wonder about the political or social implications behind choosing such humble materials in this practice. Curator: A compelling question. It moves us beyond the mere form. Editor: Seeing this makes the creative process feel less precious and more like honest labor. Curator: And perhaps that's what Burne-Jones intended us to consider all along.