[title not known] 1806 - 1807

Curator: This sheet of studies is by Thomas Stothard, a late 18th and early 19th century artist, held in the Tate collection. Editor: It feels very alive, like a glimpse into a bustling street scene. There's a real sense of character in each face. Curator: Precisely, it's like Stothard was capturing a whole range of human types! I see echoes of Hogarth's social commentary. The drawing really exposes class distinctions. Editor: I agree. But the immediacy of the sketches, the quick, confident lines, transcends mere social observation, don't you think? They're archetypes, but with individual stories etched into their faces. Curator: Maybe. For me, it reflects a fascination with physiognomy, the era's belief that character could be read in one's features, often linked to biases about class and morality. Editor: Still, there's beauty in the raw, unidealized portrayal of humanity. It moves me. Curator: That's fair. It's a document of its time and a testament to the artist’s talent to capture the essence of humanity with a few strokes.