[title not known] Verso: Sketch 

Editor: This sketch, by Prince Hoare, depicts a mother and child in delicate pencil strokes. It feels very intimate. What can we learn about the means of production used to create it? Curator: Consider the availability and cost of paper and pencils in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when Hoare was active. Who had access to these materials, and what does that say about the artist’s social standing and intended audience? Editor: So, the materiality reflects access and privilege. Fascinating. Curator: Exactly. And think about how the rapid strokes convey the urgency of capturing a fleeting moment, a raw glimpse into labor. Editor: Thank you! This has certainly broadened my perspective.