A Family Scene: A Boy Finds Himself in the Glass 

Curator: Susanna Duncombe, born in 1725, created this work titled "A Family Scene: A Boy Finds Himself in the Glass." It's part of the Tate Collections. Editor: The fine detail and intimate scale make this feel almost like a captured moment, a glimpse into a domestic sphere. Curator: Precisely! Examining gender roles here, we see a carefully constructed family unit, likely reflecting societal expectations of the time. Consider the mother and daughter's placement and dress compared to the father. Editor: And the materiality! The etching process allows such intricacy in representing the textures of clothing, and the reflections in the glass. The quality of glass, its cost and rarity, also speaks to class. Curator: Right. The mirror, in this context, isn't just reflective. It becomes a symbol of self-awareness but also societal mirroring – reflecting how one is perceived and placed within the rigid structure. Editor: I agree, the glass is key here. It represents status but also process; grinding lenses and mirrors was an emerging industry, requiring specialized labor. Curator: Reflecting upon this scene, one wonders about Duncombe's perspective as a female artist depicting these power dynamics. Editor: Indeed. Considering the time, the work itself and the skill involved in the craft becomes a statement.