Three Figures 

Editor: This is Henry William Bunbury's "Three Figures" from the late 18th century, a sketch on paper. It feels like a commentary on class, with the figure on the left possibly representing a social climber. What do you make of the power dynamics in play here? Curator: I see these figures as emblems of their era, embodying the tensions between tradition and burgeoning social change. Notice how their attire and posture speak volumes about their assumed status. What narratives do you think Bunbury is critiquing? Editor: Perhaps the absurdity of social aspiration, how people adopt affectations to appear more important. The figure with the horn seems almost comical in their attempt. Curator: Exactly. And consider the societal expectations around gender and performance at the time. Are these figures upholding or subverting those norms? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: Likewise.