Primate Skulls, for "Art Anatomy;" verso: Horses' Hind Quarters 1872

Curator: This sketch, by William Rimmer, presents primate skulls intended for his “Art Anatomy.” Their stark simplicity is immediately striking. Editor: Yes, a chilling starkness. Even in outline, the skulls possess a potent symbolism, reminding us of mortality and the primal underpinnings of existence. Curator: Rimmer's interest in anatomy reflects a 19th-century fascination with the body's inner workings, but also his own labor, teaching and producing didactic materials for other artists. Editor: The skulls themselves become potent symbols—of death, of course, but also of knowledge, the pursuit of scientific understanding, and perhaps even a memento mori. Curator: Consider the labor invested in creating these teaching aids; the process and the material realities behind them. Editor: Indeed. This sketch becomes not just an anatomical study, but a meditation on the human condition. Curator: Quite so. Rimmer’s skillful line work gives us both. Editor: A somber yet thought-provoking piece.