Head of Fisherman, Hastings 1807

Curator: This is Joshua Cristall’s "Head of Fisherman, Hastings." It's a small pencil sketch, part of the Tate Collections. There isn't a specific date attached to it. Editor: The economy of line is striking; he seems burdened, doesn’t he? A quiet melancholy pervades the sketch. Curator: Indeed. Hastings was a vital fishing port. Consider Cristall capturing this working man: what does it say about early 19th-century art institutions supporting images of labor? Editor: It certainly challenges the notion of 'high' art. One can almost feel the texture of the paper, the graphite leaving its trace. Curator: The sketch's immediacy suggests the daily grind. Was this fisherman a romantic figure, or simply a worker in Cristall's eyes? Editor: Perhaps Cristall wanted to elevate the status of the fisherman, to bestow value on him. Curator: A fascinating piece, bringing together art history, labor and the subtle power of a simple drawing. Editor: It is a poignant reminder of those whose labor shaped coastal communities.