Two Rows of Classical Figures c. 1830

Editor: Here we have Washington Allston's "Two Rows of Classical Figures," artist date unknown, a simple drawing on paper at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the bare lines and the ochre-colored paper. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I notice the physical qualities of this drawing first: the type of paper Allston used, the pigment of the ink. These choices tell us about his access to materials and the economic realities of art production at the time. What kind of labor was required to produce this work? Editor: That’s a great way to consider it! I hadn’t thought about the process of the drawing, but now I am! Curator: Considering the classical subject matter and Allston's access to resources, does this work reaffirm or challenge the traditional artistic hierarchy?