Front View of a Bull’s Head 

Editor: Here we have Joseph Highmore's drawing, "Front View of a Bull’s Head," housed at the Tate. It's a striking image. What role do you see this type of art playing in the social context of its time? Curator: Considering Highmore's era, this study likely served a didactic function within artistic training. These animal studies were common, and reveal the intersection of artistic pursuit and nascent scientific observation. Editor: So, more like an academic exercise than a finished piece for public consumption? Curator: Precisely. Think of it as a building block. How does understanding its possible function alter your perception of the image? Editor: It makes me think about the power dynamics of the academy then; who had access to these studies, and how they shaped artistic representation.