[title not known] c. 1858

Curator: Here we have an intriguing watercolour sketch by Reuben Townroe, who was active in the late 19th century. Editor: The rough, almost unfinished quality gives it a certain immediacy, doesn't it? The colours are muted, save for those flashes of red. Curator: Townroe exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists, but it seems this drawing might have been more of a private study. The arched niche suggests a larger architectural context, possibly a religious setting. Editor: I'm struck by the rendering of the figure's draped clothing. The economy of line and colour wash beautifully conveys a sense of volume and texture. It speaks to a deep understanding of craft. Curator: Indeed, there’s a performative aspect to display here, within an aesthetic tradition linked to prestige institutions. Editor: Yes, but it feels more about the process, the making, than the final product. Curator: Thinking about it, I see how this artwork challenges traditional boundaries between a ‘sketch’ and finished work. Editor: Exactly, it values the labour and materiality.