Three Women and a Child on a Roof 1820 - 1884

Editor: This delicate pencil drawing is titled "Three Women and a Child on a Roof," created by Adrian Ludwig Richter sometime between 1820 and 1884. It’s interesting to me that it depicts women seemingly in a domestic setting, but placed outdoors and at a great height. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: For me, the interest lies in considering the social context surrounding the labor suggested here. Look at the implements for spinning and weaving; this suggests that this image should be considered alongside textile production of the era. Richter captures a very specific type of labour and we should investigate what that tells us about societal power dynamics. Editor: So you’re suggesting that rather than focusing on the "artistic" quality of the drawing, we consider the work in terms of what the image represents about work in the domestic sphere and gendered labour roles in that time? Curator: Exactly. The choice of depicting women engaged in textile production, even in what seems like an elevated, idealized setting, forces us to acknowledge the often-unseen labor that underpinned much of society. Consider the material conditions that made this scene possible, both for the artist and the subjects he portrays. What kind of access did each have to materials, to leisure? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered the economic implications inherent in the scene itself. I was focusing on the mood and aesthetic of it, but it's crucial to think about who had the means to create art, who was depicted, and what their relationship was to labor. Curator: Precisely. Even the 'humble' pencil and paper are telling of class and consumption at this period. What we are doing is unpicking an ideological context through its material means. Editor: I’ll definitely look at art with a different perspective now. Thanks for expanding my view! Curator: My pleasure!