[title not known] Possibly 1818

Curator: Here we have an undated work by Robert Smirke, from the Tate Collections, measuring about 24 by 20 centimeters. Editor: It feels incredibly somber. Everyone gathered around the bedside seems to be in the throes of intense grief. Curator: Right, it certainly evokes the rituals surrounding death and mourning in 18th and early 19th-century Britain, particularly regarding class and gender roles in displaying emotion. Editor: I am drawn to the dog. Its presence evokes faithfulness and loyalty, perhaps reflecting commonly held beliefs around grief and relationships during that time. Curator: Precisely! The depiction is highly gendered, as women and children are relegated to visibly emotive roles while men are positioned stoically in the background. Editor: Considering how art can shape societal perceptions, Smirke’s artwork underscores and arguably perpetuates the expectations placed on different groups during periods of loss. Curator: Indeed, reflecting on the painting from a modern perspective challenges us to deconstruct such rigid cultural norms around grief. Editor: A powerful illustration of inherited social scripts, one that prompts important conversations about who is permitted to grieve and how.