Girl Leaning on a Gate 1915

Editor: Lady Edna Clarke Hall's watercolor, "Girl Leaning on a Gate," features delicate washes and a seemingly effortless style. It feels so casual, almost like a snapshot. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The work’s materiality interests me. Consider the cheapness of paper and watercolor; Was this accessibility a factor in Clarke Hall's choice of medium? How does the subject's class position relate to the work's production? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered the socio-economic factors tied to the materials. Curator: These choices, paper and watercolor, challenge notions of high art, don't they? Did her gender influence access to more established mediums, perhaps? Editor: I see what you mean! Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about.