Drapery Study; verso: Drapery Study (continues on page 11 recto) c. 19th century

Editor: This drawing, "Drapery Study" by Edward Burne-Jones, features a knotted piece of fabric. It looks so tactile, almost like I could reach out and untie it. How might this simple study relate to Burne-Jones' broader artistic concerns? Curator: It's interesting to consider the "Drapery Study" beyond its surface. Burne-Jones, a key figure in the Aesthetic movement, used studies like these to explore ideal forms. How might this seemingly mundane object—a piece of fabric—become a vehicle for expressing the beauty and artifice he sought, especially considering the social constraints of the Victorian era? Editor: So, he's using drapery to explore form, but also maybe pushing back against Victorian norms? Curator: Exactly! Think about how clothing, especially for women, was used to both reveal and conceal. This study might be a subtle commentary on those constraints, exploring freedom through the representation of unbound fabric. What do you think? Editor: That makes me see the drawing in a completely new light. Thanks!