Ruding Deverell (?) 

Editor: Here we have Walter Howell Deverell’s drawing "Ruding Deverell (?)", its date is unknown. It seems to be ink on paper. I am immediately drawn to the subject matter; the child looks so peaceful. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let's consider the materials. The immediacy of ink suggests a sketch, a study. How does that affect our perception of the final "product," the image itself, and Deverell’s artistic labor? Editor: That's interesting. It does seem like a quick rendering. Does that mean this wasn't meant for public consumption? Curator: Exactly. The private nature of the work shifts our focus to the artist’s process. It's about the act of seeing and recording, more than creating a finished commodity. Editor: So, it gives us insight into the means of production in a way a finished painting wouldn’t. Thank you. Curator: Indeed. Thinking about the materials truly opens up a different reading of the image.