Untitled (Costume study) c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have "Untitled (Costume study)," a graphite drawing dating from around the 19th century, by Alfred Grévin, currently residing at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. There's something intriguing about seeing these quick studies pinned together— almost like a mood board for a play or opera. What jumps out at you? Curator: What immediately strikes me is the performative nature of identity being explored here. These aren't just sketches of costumes; they’re hinting at the roles people play, perhaps unconsciously. Costume has always been used to define or obscure social strata – What stories do you think the artist is telling with their arrangement? Editor: That's fascinating, the idea of 'obscuring' social strata. It's especially poignant with the figure holding the skull, don't you think? Curator: Absolutely. That figure forces us to confront mortality and the theatricality of life itself. How might this reflect anxieties of the late 19th century and the shifting societal norms? Think of industrialization and social upheaval, for example, causing deep divides. Does the figure's clothing offer a comment? Is it glorifying something, obscuring a specific reality or memory? Editor: It feels like there's an element of satire there, maybe poking fun at societal conventions? It seems strange. What do you make of the way they’ve been assembled? Almost carelessly tacked onto the board. Curator: This informality emphasizes the liminal space between private creation and public performance. They allow a glimpse into the artist's process of deconstructing these social and artistic ideas through characters and symbols that may well represent historical ideas as well as real figures. Does it shift how we might see portraiture of the era? Editor: It does indeed. I was seeing individual sketches, but I appreciate how the grouping encourages you to ask about the role they may all be playing. Thanks so much for this! Curator: It’s my pleasure. This type of critical approach encourages a constant revisioning and opening up to the unexpected nuances these older works possess, if we only reconsider.