Head- and Tail-pieces c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have "Head- and Tail-pieces" by an artist known only as ? Mouce. It's a tiny print, a vignette really, with a ship and a building inside a decorative frame. What's your interpretation? Curator: I see a meditation on power and trade. Notice the placement of the ship, dominating the harbor, perhaps hinting at the colonial ambitions of the time. Consider, too, the artist's obscured identity; what statements might be made by remaining unknown, or using the moniker "Mouce?" Editor: Interesting! So you see it reflecting larger social structures? Curator: Absolutely. Even the ornamentation frames a narrative about wealth and control. The "Head- and Tail-pieces," as the title suggests, play a role in shaping the larger narrative it is a part of. Editor: I never would have thought of it that way just looking at it! Curator: It's amazing how much these small pieces can tell us about history and social dynamics if we dig a little deeper.