Illustration to Goldsmith’s ‘Vicar of Wakefield’: Studies of a Girl and Children 1789

Curator: This is Thomas Stothard’s, “Illustration to Goldsmith’s ‘Vicar of Wakefield’: Studies of a Girl and Children,” housed here at the Tate. Editor: It feels like a flurry of ghostly figures, a sketch barely tethered to the page. Curator: Stothard was highly regarded for his book illustrations. This sheet of studies gives us a glimpse into his process. Editor: Yes, you can almost feel the artist working through the composition, trying out different poses. The pencil strokes are so delicate. I’m curious about the paper—was it handmade, and how would that affect the mark-making? Curator: The print market in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was expanding, leading to a need for artists who could create appealing imagery for mass consumption. Editor: Thinking about the relationship between labor and art, it highlights how the Industrial Revolution created these new roles for artists. Curator: Indeed. Stothard’s work reflects the growing importance of visual culture within society. Editor: It's a fascinating example of how material conditions and artistic production are so closely intertwined. Curator: Exactly, and seeing the genesis of an image is invaluable for our understanding of the period. Editor: It makes one appreciate the labor and choices that go into an image before it reaches the wider public.