Left Foot; verso: Drapery Study (Bodice) c. 19th century

Curator: This is Edward Burne-Jones' "Left Foot; verso: Drapery Study (Bodice)," a pencil drawing held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The immediate impression is one of classical study and the act of careful observation. It’s quite small, isn't it? Almost intimate in scale. Curator: Yes, it’s only about 13 by 9 centimeters. Burne-Jones’s practice involved meticulous preparatory sketches of this kind. They highlight the material labor involved in academic training, challenging a certain separation of craft and fine art in his era. Editor: Absolutely, this level of detail suggests a rigorous academic background. This was at a time when artistic institutions were solidifying specific ideas about what 'good' art should be, and this drawing feels like a direct engagement with those standards. Curator: The medium itself—graphite on paper—is quite humble, a stark contrast to the grand mythological scenes he would later paint. It's a study, a process of working through the logistics of depicting the human form. Editor: It feels like we're getting a glimpse into Burne-Jones's workshop, and by extension, the art world and its expectations during the late 19th century. Curator: Precisely. It's a window into the making of art. Editor: It gives us a greater appreciation for Burne-Jones' artistic journey.