Study. Three figures 

Editor: Edwin Austin Abbey’s *Study. Three Figures* presents three figures in what appears to be watercolor and colored pencil. There is something profoundly sad about the bowed heads of the figures on the right that is catching my attention. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: You know, that’s astute. There’s a theatrical quality to this work. I wonder if Abbey wasn’t envisioning a stage scene – perhaps something Shakespearean, given his later work. Notice how he uses color to differentiate the figures. The woman on the left, draped in yellow stripes, stands apart – literally, visually. The other two, huddled together in shades of brown and white, share a sorrow, a secret. The stark background almost feels like a spotlight isolating them. I mean, what story do you imagine unfolding here? Editor: I see what you mean. Perhaps it is from a play...Maybe the woman in yellow has delivered news that the others find devastating? Do you think it's a coincidence she has a certain sense of composure compared to the others? Curator: I'd posit it is not at all coincidence! I mean, it is quite considered that, with her hand raised to her chest, her slight incline to the left suggests more of a protective nature as she relays news. Now you, are composing possible histories and that’s art humming within. I love how a single image can open up a universe of narratives. Editor: Yes, it is fun. Thinking about theatre is fun as it makes you ask: where would the music sit within a performance? Where would light strike to give emotion to the play and this drawing? I'll have to keep Abbey in mind for this consideration!