The Man Who Taught Blake Painting in his Dreams (after William Blake) c. 1825

Editor: Here we have John Linnell's "The Man Who Taught Blake Painting in his Dreams (after William Blake)," a pencil drawing. The linework feels very deliberate. How do you interpret the process behind this piece? Curator: Consider the physical act and social conditions of its making. Linnell, a known artist, dedicating time and material, pencil and paper, to depict Blake's dream figure, tells us about artistic labor in their circle. Editor: So, it's about the materials used and the act of creating itself? Curator: Precisely! The choice of pencil, readily available, suggests accessibility, contrasting with the ethereal subject matter. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks for illuminating that! Curator: Art isn't just about the image, but the means that brought it into being and the social context of its production.