The Captive 

Curator: John Hamilton Mortimer's work, "The Captive," presents us with a stark image of confinement and despair. Editor: Woof, it's heavy, isn't it? All muted browns, like dust and old bones. You can almost feel the chill of that stone cell. Curator: Mortimer, who died young, often explored themes of power and victimhood. His art engaged with the political currents of his time, hinting at issues of social injustice and the treatment of marginalized people. Editor: It makes you wonder what he did, this captive. Or, more importantly, *who* decided he deserved to be there. What a lonely pose. Curator: It evokes questions about the relationship between justice and oppression, themes that remain relevant in contemporary discourse around incarceration and human rights. Editor: I guess seeing a drawing like this makes me question my own freedoms, the things I take for granted every day. Curator: Precisely, it’s a somber piece and can leave you reflective.