BEHIND THE SCENES 

John Leech created this sketch, 'Behind the Scenes', using ink to capture a moment bustling with social undercurrents. The setting appears to be a refreshment area, possibly backstage at a theater, where women serve food, embodying a common theme of labor and sustenance. Note the aprons, the servers' garb, which not only denotes their occupation but also echoes the vestal virgins of antiquity, keepers of the sacred flame, here transformed into keepers of culinary offerings. The food itself, piled high, is reminiscent of cornucopias in Roman art, symbols of abundance and plenty. Yet, unlike the mythological cornucopia, here the abundance is handled, served, and commodified, a stark contrast to its original divine context. This scene subtly mirrors the cycles of giving and receiving that play out across cultures, a motif constantly revisited through the ages in myriad forms. The act of serving, deeply rooted in human interaction, resonates with our subconscious understanding of roles and relationships, evoking both comfort and the power dynamics inherent in service.