Three Seated Female Figures 

John Flaxman made this graphite drawing of three seated female figures. It’s difficult to date exactly, but it was probably made sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Flaxman was an English sculptor and designer, and these figures are typical of his work. They are idealized and classical, but they also have a certain domestic quality. We see an interest here in how the female figure was taking on new cultural meaning, especially in connection to ideas of family and motherhood. It would be interesting to ask if these are meant to be muses, or perhaps are images of the artist’s own family and circle of friends. Flaxman's art reflects the social structures of his time. Was he conservative or progressive? Did he critique the institutions of art? These are the questions we must ask ourselves when interpreting his works. Research into the prevailing social attitudes of the time, as well as the institutions that shaped Flaxman's career, might help us to see them in a new way.