Rossetti, having just had a fresh consignment of ‘stunning’ fabrics ... tries hard to prevail on his younger sister to accept ... one 1917

Editor: So, this is Sir Max Beerbohm's "Rossetti, having just had a fresh consignment of 'stunning' fabrics..." It's a watercolor drawing. The contrast between Rossetti's enthusiasm and his sister's somber attire is striking. What's your take on the power dynamics here? Curator: It's a fascinating tableau of Victorian gender roles. Rossetti, the flamboyant artist, versus his sister Christina, often interpreted as a symbol of female constraint within a patriarchal society. The fabrics become stand-ins for the very possibilities denied to women like her, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I see your point. The fabrics represent artistic freedom. Curator: Precisely. And her refusal? Perhaps a rejection of the male gaze, a reclaiming of her own agency. The piece invites us to consider the subtle acts of resistance within prescribed social boundaries. Editor: I never thought of it that way. It's much more complex than it appears.