Sir Bulkeley Price Bringing the Mortage Money to Mr. Scarve 1852

Editor: This is "Sir Bulkeley Price Bringing the Mortgage Money to Mr. Scarve" by George Cruikshank, at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a flurry of activity, almost chaotic, but with a clear narrative. What story do you think Cruikshank is trying to tell here? Curator: Ah, Cruikshank! He had such a wicked eye. Look at the expressions, the near-caricatures. It’s not just a transfer of funds, is it? It’s a parade, a spectacle. Is Price a hero, or a figure of ridicule, do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered ridicule! It seems celebratory, but now that you mention it, the expressions *are* exaggerated. I guess I just saw wealth. Curator: Exactly! It’s a snapshot of societal values, wealth on display, maybe with a hint of the absurd. He’s a master of the visual jab, that Cruikshank. Editor: I see that now. It's amazing how much a simple question can change your perspective. Curator: That's the fun, isn't it? We bring ourselves, and the art reflects us back, changed.