An Interior 

Editor: This is William James Müller's watercolor "An Interior," from around the 1840s, held at the Tate. The scene feels very staged and performative to me. What's your take on the social dynamics presented here? Curator: Indeed. Notice how the figures are placed amongst symbols of wealth and artistry, almost like props in a theater. Müller's interior becomes a stage for exploring Victorian ideals of domesticity and social hierarchy. How does the woman's pose strike you in relation to the male figure's stance? Editor: She looks almost swooning, very passive. Is this a commentary on gender roles of the time? Curator: Precisely. The painting offers a window into the constructed nature of gender and class in 19th-century Britain, prompting us to question the power dynamics at play. It’s also interesting how the other artworks in the image seem to be looking at them, or are we, the viewer, watching this tableau? Editor: It's like everyone's caught in this social game, frozen in time! Thanks, this makes me see it so differently!