Studies of a Group of Female Spectators. Verso: Similar Figures 

Editor: This is Thomas Stothard's "Studies of a Group of Female Spectators." It's a pencil drawing, and I'm struck by how it captures the varied expressions of these women. What do you make of their collective gaze? Curator: It's tempting to wonder what spectacle commands their attention, isn't it? But let's also consider the power dynamics inherent in spectatorship itself. Who is being watched, and what roles do these women play in reinforcing or subverting social norms through their gaze? Editor: So, the act of watching is itself a form of agency? Curator: Precisely. By focusing on a group of women, Stothard invites us to consider their collective experience and power. It makes me consider the different forms of viewership across gender and class. Editor: I never thought about it that way. I'll definitely look at art differently now. Curator: Me too! Every viewing is a chance to renegotiate.