Ye Olde South Fayre, from "Manners and Customs of Ye Bostonians" c. 19th century

Editor: This is Francis Gilbert Attwood's "Ye Olde South Fayre, from 'Manners and Customs of Ye Bostonians'". It's a pen and ink drawing, and it's interesting how Attwood chose to represent this fair through these vignettes. What do you see in Attwood's depiction of this event? Curator: I'm drawn to the material choices, the use of pen and ink, a readily available and relatively inexpensive medium. It speaks to a certain accessibility, perhaps a commentary on who had access to depicting and consuming such scenes of leisure. How does that materiality influence our reading of the "manners and customs" portrayed? Editor: That's an interesting point, I hadn't considered the economic aspect. It makes me think about how different materials might portray the scene differently. Curator: Exactly. It invites us to consider the labor involved, the social context of production, and the implied audience. Attwood’s choice wasn't arbitrary. Editor: I learned a lot about how even the medium reflects the meaning. Curator: Yes, considering the material realities of art can illuminate so much.