Two Banners; verso: Two Banners c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Two Banners" by Edward Burne-Jones. It's a pencil drawing, showing two hanging flags. I’m struck by the simplicity of the composition. What do you see here? Curator: It's compelling how Burne-Jones uses a seemingly simple study of fabric to evoke larger questions of power and display. Given the Pre-Raphaelite interest in medievalism, do you think these banners might allude to heraldry and its role in constructing identity and authority? Editor: That's a great point! I hadn't considered the connection to heraldry. So, even a sketch like this could be seen as a commentary on the social function of imagery? Curator: Precisely. Consider how these studies might have been used within the broader aesthetic movement, to reclaim or perhaps reimagine historical narratives through design. Editor: This has completely changed how I see the drawing. Thanks so much for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about the social lives of images always enriches our understanding.