Head of a Boy 

Editor: Here we have William Henry Hunt's "Head of a Boy," a small drawing from the Tate Collections. It looks like charcoal and maybe some pastel? It’s a simple, direct portrait. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's interesting to consider the materials – charcoal, pastel – readily available, inexpensive. This suggests a specific mode of artistic production, one perhaps driven by economic realities or a desire for accessibility. How does this relate to the consumption of art at the time, who could afford to commission or purchase such works? Editor: So, the accessibility of materials connects to the audience? Curator: Precisely. And think about the boy himself – what social class might he belong to, considering the artist and potential patrons? Hunt’s choices in materials and subject matter tell a story about the social landscape of artistic production and consumption. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding artistic intent and the art market. Thank you.