Three Sketches of a Man with a Gun 

Editor: This drawing is called "Three Sketches of a Man with a Gun," presumably by Edwin Austin Abbey. It's just pencil on paper, and it feels a little unsettling, I think, with the figures all holding weapons. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This drawing really strikes me because it prompts a whole range of questions about power, representation, and masculinity. We see these three iterations of a man, a figure undoubtedly imbued with a sense of authority, formalized by the gun he wields. Where does this authority come from, and how does the artist portray that? Editor: That's a great point about the authority. I hadn’t really thought of it that way. Curator: Look at the central figure's posture, for instance – legs firmly planted, a direct gaze, clad in what appears to be a suit. There’s a carefully constructed visual language here that tells us about societal expectations and the performance of power. Does the anonymity created by sketching, rather than fully fleshed portraiture, amplify that authority, making him a kind of everyman? Or does it diminish it, by seeming less considered? Editor: I think maybe it depends on when it was made. It seems more generic and everyman like if it was recent. If it was done, say, a hundred years ago, then it would more like it signifies a historical person. Curator: Exactly. Context is essential! These drawings aren't simply neutral representations, they're embedded within historical and social structures that legitimize or challenge particular narratives of dominance. Looking closely can reveal who is granted power, how that power is displayed, and what roles visual culture plays in reinforcing these dynamics. What have you gleaned? Editor: Well, I’ll definitely look at figure drawings with a different perspective now! Curator: It’s fascinating to think about how historical notions of masculinity continue to echo in the present and affect these drawings and beyond. Thanks for raising this point, as I had overlooked it at first.