11. Table XI. Combination of the Features of the Penetrating 

Curator: Alexander Cozens created this drawing, "11. Table XI. Combination of the Features of the Penetrating," as part of his work exploring the human face. Editor: It’s striking how modern it feels despite its age. The simplified lines and focus on the hairstyle give it a minimalist, almost graphic quality. Curator: The paper itself tells a story. Look closely at the laid lines and chain lines, subtle signs of the handmade paper common during Cozens's time, signs of labor, craft. Editor: And the coiffure! That braided style evokes classical sculpture; perhaps Cozens intended to capture the essence of idealized beauty from that era. Curator: Precisely! These drawings weren’t necessarily intended as finished art objects, but rather as source material, a visual vocabulary for artists. Editor: So, in essence, Cozens created a pattern book for beauty, attempting to codify something intangible into a repeatable visual language. I find that fascinating. Curator: Yes, this challenges our modern ideas about art making, doesn't it? We see this piece now in the Tate, but its creation was based on a method of making art. Editor: I see echoes of Neoclassical ideals, filtered through Cozens's artistic process. Curator: Exactly. It's a convergence of materials, process, and cultural meaning. Editor: It makes me appreciate the layers of history embedded in this seemingly simple drawing.