Drury Lane Rags 1888

Editor: This is James McNeill Whistler's "Drury Lane Rags." It's difficult to date precisely, and it's currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a pretty small work on paper. What strikes me is the sketchiness, a snapshot of everyday life. What’s your take on it? Curator: The rapid lines and use of paper itself speak to the availability of materials. Consider how Whistler democratized art by representing a rag shop. It’s not the typical high-society portrait, is it? Editor: No, definitely not. It feels like he’s elevating a common scene. Curator: Exactly! He's forcing us to consider the value of labor and materiality inherent in the production and trade of even the most humble objects. Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn’t thought about it that way before. Curator: Understanding the materials and social context really opens up the meaning of what he represents. Editor: I'm definitely going to look at Whistler differently now.