Portrait of a Woman in Profile c. 1885

Editor: This is William Valentine Schevill's "Portrait of a Woman in Profile." The charcoal strokes give it a somber, almost melancholic feel. What can you tell me about the artist's process and the materials he used? Curator: The very act of choosing charcoal speaks volumes. It's a humble material, readily available and easily manipulated. Schevill's use points to a concern with the labor of art making. This challenges conventional notions of art and emphasizes the materiality of the art. Editor: So, the medium itself is part of the message? Curator: Precisely. The drawing, a traditionally preparatory medium, becomes the finished work. It calls into question the hierarchy of art forms. Did Schevill elevate labor and the working class with the making of this artwork? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thank you! Curator: And thank you. It highlights the importance of considering the socio-economic context of artistic production.