Sketch to Illustrate the Passions—Senility or Peevishness 1855

Editor: Here we have Richard Dadd's 1855 watercolor, "Sketch to Illustrate the Passions—Senility or Peevishness," which is currently located at the Met. I'm immediately struck by how contained the scene is, almost theatrical, like a stage set. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What strikes me is Dadd’s choice of subject and how it relates to his own mental state at the time. Remember, this was created while he was institutionalized at Bethlem Hospital. The sketch engages with ideas of mental instability and the societal perceptions surrounding aging and perceived madness. What societal anxieties do you think this scene might be reflecting? Editor: I guess it’s suggesting a lack of control, perhaps even infantilization of the elderly. Are you suggesting Dadd saw himself in the subjects he portrayed? Curator: Precisely. Dadd's own struggles with mental illness likely informed his observations and portrayal of these "passions". Notice the ambiguity in the title. Senility and peevishness; are they symptoms or judgments? This questions how society categorizes and marginalizes individuals deemed "difficult" or "unstable." Editor: It's interesting to consider it as social commentary rather than just a depiction of a scene. I never thought about the agency and personhood of these "difficult" individuals. Curator: Exactly. Dadd prompts us to consider our own biases and the power dynamics at play when we label someone as 'senile' or 'peevish.' It pushes us to engage critically with how we understand mental health and social exclusion within a broader historical and cultural context. Editor: That reframes everything! Thanks, I'll never look at it the same way again.