Study of a Donkey 

Editor: So, here we have Robert Hills' "Study of a Donkey," from the Tate Collection. It's quite small, a watercolor sketch, really. It feels…humble. What do you make of it? Curator: Humble is a good word. I see a real affection in the artist's hand, wouldn’t you agree? Almost as if he’s not just studying form, but trying to capture the very essence of "donkey-ness." Did you notice the way the donkey’s coat is rendered? Editor: Yes! There's a real softness to it. Almost like you could reach out and touch it. It's unexpected. Curator: Exactly. Hills avoids idealizing the animal. Instead, he seems to find beauty in its everyday reality. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unassuming of subjects. Editor: That's a lovely thought. I'll definitely look at donkeys differently now. Curator: Me too! Maybe that's the point: to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.