An Angel with a Pipe 

Editor: This is William Morris's "An Angel with a Pipe," an undated pencil drawing in the Tate collection. The folds in the angel's robe are really lovely. What do you see in this drawing? Curator: As a materialist, I consider Morris's processes. Here, the delicate pencil work belies the industrialist Morris became. Does this early engagement with artistry inform his later critiques of mass production and the Arts and Crafts movement? Editor: That’s a really interesting way to think about it. I hadn't considered how his art informed his politics. Curator: Thinking about his material choices helps us see art as more than just aesthetics, it is born of labor, history and social critique. Editor: I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks!