Woman and Child 

Editor: This is Adam Buck's "Woman and Child," held at the Tate. It's a small watercolor, and the earthy tones give it such a gentle feeling. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: I’m interested in the labor embedded in this watercolor. Think of the pigments themselves – where did Buck source them, and who processed them? The cloth too, both the woman's drapery and perhaps the baby’s swaddling, tells a story of production and consumption. Editor: That’s a great point, I hadn’t considered the origin of the materials themselves. Curator: Exactly! And consider the social context: how did the availability and cost of materials shape artistic choices and influence the depiction of domesticity? Editor: It really does make you appreciate how much work went into even a seemingly simple piece. Thanks!