[title not known] 

Curator: This delicate pencil drawing is currently untitled, created by Elizabeth Rigby, dating back to the early 19th century. Editor: The sitter appears pensive, almost melancholic. I'm immediately drawn to the shadowing around the eyes, adding depth to his gaze. Curator: Indeed. Observe how Rigby captures light and shadow to sculpt the planes of his face. The precision in line weight is quite remarkable. Editor: It's tempting to read his expression as a reflection of the social constraints of the era. How much agency did men, let alone women, possess? Curator: The materiality itself speaks volumes; graphite on paper, a medium accessible yet capable of such nuance. Editor: I find the work so affecting because it makes me think about the individuals that are easily lost to history. Curator: A sensitive observation, and I am struck by how the absence of color focuses our attention on the form itself. Editor: And through that form, we glimpse a life, a story.