The Prince, Picking up Cinderella's Glass Slipper 1854

Curator: George Cruikshank's "The Prince, Picking up Cinderella's Glass Slipper" presents a seemingly innocent fairytale scene, but what does it tell us about gendered power dynamics? Editor: It feels like a classic depiction, almost romantic. How does it connect to larger social issues? Curator: Consider the pursuit. The prince's quest for Cinderella normalizes male agency while Cinderella is fleeing and disempowered. How might we interpret this in the context of women’s limited social mobility at the time? Editor: So, it's not just a simple love story; it reflects societal constraints? Curator: Exactly. Even in "happily ever after," we should examine who holds the glass slipper, and therefore, the power. It's a good reminder that art can uphold, or challenge, existing power structures. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. Thanks!