Study of a Boy Fishing 

Editor: This is John Varley's "Study of a Boy Fishing" from the Tate. It's a simple pencil sketch, very understated. I’m struck by how ordinary it feels. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It’s important to consider the rise of childhood as a distinct subject in art. Was this intended for public display, or was it more of a private study? How did the art market shape Varley’s choice of subject matter? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about how the art market itself might be influencing what artists chose to depict. Curator: Precisely. The sketch's accessibility may reflect a growing interest in depicting everyday life, fueled by a burgeoning middle class with new tastes and expectations for art's role in society. I wonder, does its intimate scale suggest a personal connection between artist and subject? Editor: That makes me see it differently. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is always rewarding to reconsider a work within its societal context.