Two Girls 

James Ward made this pencil drawing titled ‘Two Girls’ in England during the late 18th or early 19th century. It depicts a scene with classical allusions and imagery, presenting the figures in what seems to be an idyllic setting. Ward's artistic production occurred during a time of massive social and economic upheaval. Britain was rapidly industrializing, and its empire was expanding. These forces shaped artistic production, and the Royal Academy played a critical role in determining what sort of art would be publicly displayed. A work like this, with its classical references and focus on beauty, would have satisfied the expectations of taste that prevailed in that institution. But the image also reflects the social reality of its time, presenting a vision of domestic tranquility that would have appealed to the increasingly wealthy middle classes. To fully understand the significance of this drawing, we must consider the social and institutional context in which it was produced and exhibited. Examination of archival documents, exhibition catalogs, and critical reviews could provide further insight into its meaning.