A Young Lady c. 1795 - 1800

Editor: Here we have Henry Raeburn's "A Young Lady," housed at the Tate. The sitter's gaze is so direct. What strikes you about it? Curator: Notice the brushwork. It's loose, almost hurried. This speaks to the demands of portraiture at the time. Speed meant more commissions, more consumption. Do you see the tension between artistry and commerce? Editor: I hadn't considered the speed of production. I guess the social context is crucial. Curator: Precisely. The rise of the middle class created a demand for portraits, shifting art from aristocratic patronage to a market-driven system. How did this influence artistic choices, do you think? Editor: It’s a lot to think about! Curator: Indeed! Considering the economic realities opens a whole new way of understanding the art.