A Boy, Seated 

Editor: This is "A Boy, Seated" from the British School, dating to the 18th century. I find the sitter’s casual pose very intriguing. What can you tell me about the social context of this drawing? Curator: The loose strokes and the boy's relaxed posture offer a glimpse into the changing attitudes towards childhood during the 18th century. Do you think this informality challenges or reinforces existing power structures? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. The artist made choices about how the sitter would be portrayed, and that reinforces power structures and artistic choices. Curator: Exactly. We can see how art both reflects and shapes societal norms around gender and class. It definitely offers new insights into eighteenth-century British society.