Studies of Men and Women in Medieval Dress 

Curator: Looking at this lovely pencil drawing entitled, “Studies of Men and Women in Medieval Dress” by Byam Shaw, I immediately get a sense of wandering through history, or perhaps watching actors preparing backstage. What impressions do you get? Editor: It reminds me of theater too, but more of the complexities embedded in historical narratives. Shaw's characters are placed at varying heights and different orientations, echoing fragmented power structures. Curator: Fragmented is such a great word. They definitely don’t sit still easily within the frame, do they? Each sketch almost seems to want to escape to tell a different story. It also strikes me that, since we are unsure of its creation date, the medieval style seems to be rooted more in fantasy than reality. Editor: Right, it's an imagined medieval period that we have here, with its own set of codes and conducts. I'm particularly interested in the subtle power dynamics on display through costuming; it gives an interesting hint of wealth and status even within a monochrome medium like this. The robes speak volumes. Curator: Yes, absolutely. There’s a beautiful sensitivity with the light pencil work that manages to evoke the opulence of the era, despite its starkness. It feels airy, theatrical, even romantic, in the way that these characters present themselves to the world, even with their downcast expressions. It’s fascinating how something so subtle can speak so loudly, like secrets whispered through the ages. Editor: Indeed! Shaw encourages viewers to engage critically with the representations of history. Consider how each line serves a purpose: defining gender, constructing social identity, delineating hierarchies. And in whose interest do these definitions serve? These questions keep me anchored as I witness works that are so-called artifacts. Curator: What a fantastic point! Well, as for me, this artwork makes me ponder the tales each character might wish to convey in their own words. It makes me think about performance, and whether who we see is a truth or only a stage act that allows the audience a brief moment in time with these figures, a tantalizing invitation to weave their world. Editor: An important question to consider, as this image and so many others can be considered an imagined relic.