A Deathbed Scene 

Editor: Here we have Thomas Stothard's "A Deathbed Scene," its date is unknown and it's quite small, just a few centimeters. The sepia wash gives it a somber, intimate feel. What do you make of it? Curator: I'm drawn to the materiality of the wash itself. How does the artist's manipulation of this simple medium create such a strong sense of pathos and domestic labor? Consider the social context of mourning rituals. Editor: So, the process and materials enhance the emotional impact and social commentary? Curator: Precisely! It encourages us to consider the lives and labor represented, and those excluded from this kind of representation. Editor: Fascinating. I hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks for opening my eyes to that.