Study of a Lady in a Riding Habit 1880 - 1903

Curator: This drawing, "Study of a Lady in a Riding Habit" by Phil May, sketched sometime between 1880 and 1903 using pen, presents a woman in profile. Editor: Yes, it is amazing! The sketchiness gives it such a modern, almost fashion illustration vibe, despite its age. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The immediate thing that strikes me is the evident labor of the artist's hand. We see the quick, repetitive strokes, the very act of *making* very apparent. Think about the role of pen and ink at this time. Were these tools accessible? What social class is suggested by her riding habit? Editor: So, it's not just about depicting the lady, but also thinking about the conditions of production. The pen was available, which makes it look more like this was meant for print, more accessible as a product… the rising middle class perhaps? Curator: Exactly! The study itself might be connected to mass reproduction. How do the rapid, repeated strokes suggest the efficiency desired in a work destined for publication? Also consider, is there a tension between “high art” and the material reality of commercial illustration happening? Editor: So, instead of focusing solely on the aesthetic, we're digging into the materials used and how they connect to larger social forces at the time. The pen and ink and the woman in the riding habit showing that it was part of a much broader industry, with accessibility and affordability. I guess it puts this in a new perspective for me! Curator: Precisely. Shifting the focus from aesthetic "genius" toward process and socio-economic factors really opens up possibilities for understanding art's place in the world.