Banners (continues on page 12 verso); verso: Three Banners c. 19th century

Editor: This is Edward Burne-Jones’s sketch "Banners," likely from the late 19th century. It's a pencil drawing on paper, showing studies of draped flags. The rough texture makes me wonder about its purpose. What can you tell me about the making of this work? Curator: Focusing on the materials and process, we see Burne-Jones using readily available, inexpensive materials. This suggests a study, perhaps for a larger, more finished work. Consider the social context: What did banners represent in Victorian England, and how does Burne-Jones's choice of medium affect that representation? Editor: So the sketch’s accessibility contrasts with what flags might symbolize, like power or national identity? Curator: Precisely. The material reality—pencil on paper—creates a tension with the potential grandeur associated with banners. This tension invites us to question the relationship between artistic production and the social meanings embedded in objects. Editor: That makes me see the drawing in a new light, as a commentary on how symbols are constructed and consumed. Curator: Yes, and how the labor of artistic creation intersects with those processes. A simple sketch opens up complex questions about materiality and meaning!