Study for Heraldic Glass 1893

Curator: This intriguing pencil drawing, now in the Tate Collections, is entitled "Study for Heraldic Glass" and was created by Philip Webb. The dimensions of the support are 267 x 279 mm. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The image is arresting; its fan shape somehow softens the intensity of the scene. The pelican, surrounded by her chicks, pierces her own breast. There's a real tension between nurture and self-sacrifice. Curator: Webb's approach to craft and design was deeply rooted in the Arts and Crafts movement. Consider the labor involved in creating stained glass, and how Webb elevated that labor through meticulous designs. The means of production becomes part of the message. Editor: Absolutely. Seeing this image through a feminist lens, I’m struck by how the pelican has been used as a symbol of female sacrifice throughout history. The act of feeding her young with her own blood embodies the extreme expectations placed on women. Curator: That's a powerful reading. Reflecting on the material aspect, the heraldic context suggests a desire to ennoble the subject matter, raising craft to the level of fine art, through its association with legacy and tradition. Editor: Precisely, and by understanding the historical weight of the pelican as a symbol, we can start to challenge assumptions about gendered labor, the social context of motherhood, and expectations around sustenance. Curator: It really makes you think about the value we place on production versus reproduction. Editor: Indeed. This piece prompts a deep examination of societal expectations and artistic processes.