Sketch for Donna Clara in ‘The Duenna’ 1924

Editor: Here we have George Sheringham's "Sketch for Donna Clara in 'The Duenna'," a drawing held at the Tate. The costume is so elaborate, yet the sketch itself feels quite raw. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The rapid, almost gestural quality emphasizes the performative aspect. Consider the production of theatrical costume: how does its materiality—the fabrics, dyes, and labor involved—contribute to the construction of identity on stage, and ultimately, how it's consumed by the audience? Editor: That's fascinating. I never thought about it in terms of consumption before. Curator: Seeing it through that lens reveals how deeply embedded the act of viewing art is within a broader economic and social framework.