Three Figures Bowing; verso: Two Standing Figures c. 1862 - 1875

Editor: Here we have William Rimmer's "Three Figures Bowing," a small pencil sketch on lined paper. The figures seem to be caught in a moment of deep reverence, perhaps even subservience. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look closely at the paper itself. It's not fine art paper, is it? It's ordinary, perhaps even scrap. Rimmer, working in the 19th century, likely used what was available. Consider the social context: a working artist using accessible materials to explore the human form. Editor: So, it's less about high art and more about the means of production? Curator: Exactly. It challenges our assumptions about artistic creation and the value we assign to materials. It makes me think about how art is always embedded in its time and place, shaped by the available resources and labor. Editor: I hadn't thought about the paper that way before. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Considering the materials always reveals something new.