Child Sitting in a Chair c. 19th century

Editor: This is Edme Jean Pigal’s "Child Sitting in a Chair." It looks like a casual sketch, but the sitter’s garments seem quite fine. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The process here is key. It's not just a portrait, but a record of production: pencil strokes, paper choice, and the social context of child portraiture in the 19th century. Consider the labor involved in the child's clothing versus the ease of Ruhierre's hand. Editor: So it's less about the child's identity and more about how they are presented to the world? Curator: Precisely. The material choices, the fabrics, and the artist's labor all point to systems of class and representation. It makes you consider, who was this child and who made these garments? Editor: That's a completely different way of looking at it. I'll never look at a portrait the same way again!