"--And mist or glim, I'd sail with him, if he would sail with me--" c. 1865

Curator: This is an ink drawing by George Du Maurier from around 1865. It’s titled “--And mist or glim, I'd sail with him, if he would sail with me--”. Editor: Immediately, I sense a story unfolding here. The cross-hatching is beautifully delicate, giving the scene a certain hushed intimacy. A woman sits at the piano, while a man watches. There's a stillness, almost a tension, in the air. Curator: Considering the date, the social conventions of Victorian England definitely color the dynamics we see. The positioning of the piano in domestic spaces highlights its function as a social tool. It's also a subtle commentary on women's roles. Editor: Precisely! And think about who would have the leisure and privilege to dedicate time to musical pursuits. It speaks volumes about class and gender. I am drawn to the blindfold on the woman. I want to know what power relations or commentary on sight are suggested here. Curator: Good eye! The artwork operates on many levels of performativity. The blindfold subverts expectations – while she might be playing for him, the gesture evokes ideas of hidden identities and repressed desires that haunt a seemingly proper domestic scene. Is this drawing highlighting her musical talent, or also revealing how gender norms dictate a restricted existence? Editor: Also, the title suggests a longing, a potential adventure – but is the possibility equally shared? Is it a subversive message hinting at her limited freedom, especially regarding marriage choices? Her flowered robe looks quite beautiful. But could we view that fabric itself through the globalized fabric trade of colonialism? Curator: Those are powerful questions that make this work still so pertinent to our moment! Even as an ink drawing depicting an ostensibly simple domestic moment from the past, the artwork challenges us to see the complex layering of Victorian society. Editor: It serves as a poignant reminder to continuously dissect history, seeing past pretty surfaces to understand power structures that continue to echo through generations. Curator: Indeed. The artwork challenges us to find ways of sailing forward by looking through the mist and glim of our present.