Portrait of Frank Merrit 

Editor: This is Joseph Highmore's "Portrait of Frank Merrit," a pencil sketch. It looks so fragile. What's interesting is the inscription along the side. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The paper itself speaks to me. Its texture, its likely source, the cost of acquiring it at the time. And pencil, a readily available material, democratized portraiture. This challenges the perception of portraiture being exclusively for the elite, doesn't it? Editor: That’s true, I never thought about the materials that way. I guess the social context gives it new meaning. Curator: Exactly! The materiality and accessibility are key to understanding its impact. We see how art production could exist outside traditional patronage. Editor: This gives me a lot to think about regarding art and society!