Marguerite Kelsey 1928

Editor: This is Meredith Frampton's "Marguerite Kelsey," housed at the Tate. I'm really drawn to the stillness, but I also notice the way the fabric drapes so elegantly. What can you tell me about the materials and their role in this piece? Curator: Frampton's focus on the material quality of the dress, the leather of the shoes, and even the sheen of the furniture directs our attention to their production. Who made these objects? What were the social conditions of their creation and consumption? Editor: That's fascinating. It shifts my perspective entirely, away from just admiring the aesthetic. Curator: Exactly! By highlighting materiality, Frampton invites us to consider the labor embedded within these everyday items. Editor: I never thought about it that way before; now I'm seeing it as a commentary on production and class. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It's a powerful way to consider the social implications of the objects we surround ourselves with.