The Gore Children 1755

Editor: Here we have John Singleton Copley's "The Gore Children" from 1755, created using oil paint. There's something almost haunting about the children's direct stares. It feels formal, but also… a little unsettling. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Unsettling is a great word, isn't it? It’s that precise, almost photographic detail Copley was aiming for, but it can come across as a bit stiff to our modern eyes. For me, it's a fascinating peek into colonial America's aspirations. They're clearly wealthy, wanting to project an image of elegance and control – that's what the Rococo style was all about at the time, that lightness of being. And Copley, though self-taught, was trying to capture that continental flair right here in the colonies. Do you see how carefully each child is individualized, yet they all conform to the expected codes of conduct through their clothing and posing? Editor: I do. There’s definitely a sense of performance there, and their outfits almost feel like costumes. It is cool how much info it conveys. Curator: Precisely. Clothes make the man, or, in this case, children! It also reveals what a portrait could *do*. This wasn't just art, it was a potent display of identity and status. I imagine if it were today we would choose a flattering Instagram filter... How amazing! The painting makes me want to have a family picture with everyone dolled up and staring directly at the camera in the middle of an over the top backdrop. A statement that's ironic but honest, just like them! Editor: That's so interesting! It really does make you think about how we curate our own images today, it's sort of like they’re the 1755 version of Instagram influencers! I never thought I would consider what their digital lives might look like. Curator: Absolutely, and it all comes full circle somehow. Maybe art imitates life, but sometimes life... copies art! It's made me look at my next portrait attempt very differently! Thanks!