The Three Customers n.d.

Editor: Here we have Randolph Caldecott's "The Three Customers," a drawing made with pen, ink, and gouache on paper. I am struck by its seemingly effortless depiction of a bustling cityscape. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I am particularly interested in the economy of line and the artist’s engagement with positive and negative space to define form. Notice how the relative simplicity of the dresses contrasts with the textured hatching that brings to life the city in the background. How do these stylistic differences inform your perception? Editor: I suppose the flat rendering of the women focuses my attention on them as subjects, making the busy background a secondary element of context, almost like a stage. What I find intriguing is that the line weights used seem identical to render the figures as well as the background details. What is your take? Curator: Precisely! That interplay creates a compositional tension. Caldecott directs our gaze using line, but then deliberately subverts expectations by denying the distinction you would find with, say, atmospheric perspective or chiaroscuro modeling. This results in a flattening of space that draws the eye toward the overall pattern. Editor: I hadn't considered that flattening effect! Looking at the artwork with the intention of spotting formal connections really brings out its design elements. Curator: Indeed. Approaching it formally enables a deeper appreciation of the structural relationship within Caldecott's piece and sheds light on his intentions.