[title not known] 

Editor: This small ink drawing is by an artist from the British School, its title is unknown. The man’s serious profile gives an air of formality, but the quick strokes feel more intimate. What can you tell me about the potential cultural context here? Curator: The sitter’s rigid profile and dress code indicate the social constraints and expectations of the time. How might we interpret this representation of masculinity in relation to power structures and societal norms? Editor: I suppose the focus on the profile flattens any unique characteristics into a commodity. Curator: Precisely. By analyzing such visual strategies, we unravel the complex negotiations between individual identity and societal power. Editor: That’s a great way to think about portraiture! Thanks! Curator: Indeed, art can tell a lot about how society works.