[title not known] 

Curator: This is a drawing by Elizabeth Rigby, of unknown title and date, held in the Tate Collections. It depicts a sleeping child. Editor: My first impression is one of tenderness. The soft lines and shading create a sense of peace and innocence. Curator: Rigby was known for her social commentary and as a female art critic in Victorian England. This intimacy offers a counterpoint to the public roles women were expected to fill. Editor: The texture achieved with simple pencil strokes is remarkable. The way light falls on the child's face, the subtle folds of the fabric – it's all rendered with such sensitivity. Curator: The child's dress and bonnet, the domestic setting, all speak to the restrictive social norms of the time, framing the child's future within defined gender roles. Editor: I see how the positioning of the subject and minimal background contributes to the artwork's feeling of serenity. Curator: Seeing this drawing allows us a small glimpse into the personal life of a woman who was making waves professionally in a very patriarchal society. Editor: It’s truly fascinating how Rigby uses so little to convey so much emotion.