Two Girls Playing on Combs (recto); Sketch of Seated Woman with Fragment of Another Figure (verso) c. 1790

Editor: This drawing, circa 1790, is by Thomas Barker and is aptly named "Two Girls Playing on Combs". It’s charcoal and pencil on paper. There’s something very intimate and unassuming about it...almost like capturing a stolen moment. What jumps out at you? Curator: A stolen moment, yes, perfectly put! What intrigues me is how Barker uses such humble materials – charcoal and pencil – to capture something so fleeting and universally human. It’s as if he’s not just depicting two girls, but also a feeling, an essence of childhood play. It makes me think about the sounds of my own childhood and those little moments that somehow stay with you. What do you suppose their little melody might have sounded like? Editor: Oh, that's such a great question! Probably off-key, and joyous! Thinking about it, do you think the medium of charcoal lends itself well to this subject matter? Curator: Absolutely. The smudgy, almost dreamlike quality of charcoal softens the lines and imbues the scene with a sense of nostalgia. It’s less about precision and more about capturing an overall atmosphere, wouldn’t you say? Plus, there's that fantastic contrast between light and shadow that really emphasizes their playful energy. It almost vibrates, doesn’t it? Editor: Yes, absolutely. I'm seeing so much more in it now – not just girls playing, but a whole world of childhood wonder. I'll never look at a simple charcoal sketch the same way. Curator: Exactly! That’s the magic of art, isn’t it? Transforming the ordinary into something truly extraordinary. I hope people will come away thinking, "what humble object can I transform into joy today?”