Costume Study: Woman with Umbrella. Verso: erased figure study 

Editor: This is David Cox's "Costume Study: Woman with Umbrella," from the Tate Collection. It’s a watercolor sketch, and I'm struck by how quickly it seems to have been rendered. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Cox's quick sketches were often studies of working-class women. Consider the social history: in the 19th century, umbrellas weren't just for rain but symbolized social status, marking access, or lack thereof, to particular social spheres. How does this inform your view? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It makes me wonder about her story, her place in society. Curator: Exactly! Art isn't just aesthetics; it reflects and shapes our understanding of power dynamics and social realities. This little sketch invites us to question those realities. Editor: It definitely gives me a new perspective on what I thought was just a simple study. Curator: Indeed. It's a small glimpse into a larger world.