The Mid-Day Meal c. 1790s

Curator: George Morland's pencil drawing, "The Mid-Day Meal," dates from the 1790s. I'm struck by the quiet intimacy of this sketch. Editor: There's something both dignified and melancholic in the sitter's posture. Look at the hands clasped— almost protectively. What do we know about the material conditions that informed its making? Curator: Well, Morland was known for his depictions of everyday life. Here, we see a common laborer pausing for his meal. The hasty sketch work, a frenetic dance of pencil marks, highlights that his clothes are rumpled, perhaps a little tattered— evidence of physical labor and wear and tear from his job. Editor: The red neckerchief catches the eye and maybe denotes more than just physical need? Red has traditionally represented vigor but also sacrifice. Does it relate to the social turmoil of the late 18th century? Curator: Perhaps, it certainly reflects a shift in societal dynamics. We see emerging social classes portrayed in works of art and also, practically speaking, the increasing availability of affordable materials. Pencil drawings became increasingly popular due to their convenience. Editor: True. And the figure is a symbolic vessel too, the rendering of a common man elevating him in our eyes, prompting a certain amount of introspection. What's that he is clasping between his fingers, I wonder? Curator: Maybe just some food in cloth? A precious sustenance allowing him to continue with his work. Consider that such images potentially circulated as prints; access to artwork shifted too, so ordinary folk, like the very individual depicted in the drawing, might encounter artwork too. Editor: Food and art—both necessities. Even a humble pencil drawing echoes cultural shifts in accessibility and, on top of it, provides potent iconic imagery for us centuries later. Curator: Absolutely. "The Mid-Day Meal" reminds us of the labor inherent in the everyday. Editor: And how objects as commonplace as pencil, cloth and neckerchiefs, carry rich symbolic meanings that continue to feed our interpretations.