Three Studies for a Picture. Verso: Sketch 

Editor: This is "Three Studies for a Picture" by Sir David Wilkie. It's a sketch, so undated, and rendered in brown ink. The figures seem to be expressing grief. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The covering of the face is an interesting gesture here, isn't it? It speaks volumes without revealing the subject's specific feelings. Think of its use throughout history: a sign of mourning, shame, or overwhelming emotion. What common thread links those displays? Editor: A desire for privacy? Or maybe a way to communicate grief when words fail? Curator: Precisely. Wilkie is tapping into that cultural memory, that shared understanding of how we visually represent intense feeling. The faces hidden allows the viewer to project their own emotional understanding onto the scene. Editor: I see, so the generality of it is the point. Curator: Exactly. The ambiguity allows the image to resonate with a broader audience, across different times and cultures. Editor: Thank you, I'll be sure to remember that the next time I see someone covering their face.