Gabled Roofs 1893

Editor: So, this is Whistler’s "Gabled Roofs," a drawing with such delicate lines. The scene feels so ordinary, almost like a quick sketch. How do you see it? Curator: I'm struck by how Whistler uses such minimal material - paper, ink - to depict a specific location. Think about the labor involved in constructing those roofs, the everyday lives contained within those walls, and how he's elevated it through the act of drawing. What does this choice of subject say about what constitutes "art"? Editor: That’s a really interesting perspective. I hadn’t considered the social aspect of the scene. Curator: Exactly! It prompts us to consider the social and economic factors that shaped both the subject and the production of the artwork itself. What do we value, and why? Editor: That definitely changes how I look at Whistler and this piece. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! It is important to consider the labor and materials within all art.