Study of Female Figures 

Editor: So, this is Thomas Stothard's "Study of Female Figures," at the Tate. It's... small, and kind of sepia-toned, with all these women clustered together. It gives me a secretive feeling, like they're sharing a secret. What do you think? Curator: Secretive, yes, like a huddle in a Regency novel! Stothard, he was all about that Neoclassical grace, wasn't he? Notice the flow of the lines, almost like musical notation. It's a study, an exercise, and yet it feels complete somehow. Do you get a sense of movement, or is it just me? Editor: I see what you mean. It does feel like they could start dancing any minute. I like how the faces are so individual, even in a quick sketch. Curator: Exactly! Each one has a story, or a potential story, waiting to unfold. It's like Stothard's inviting us to imagine their lives. I think I'll look at sketches more closely from now on. Editor: Me too! It’s interesting how much you can learn from something that feels unfinished.