Head of a Young Woman (Study for "The Hesperides"?) 1870

Editor: This is Edward Burne-Jones's "Head of a Young Woman," likely a study for "The Hesperides," created in 1876. The delicate pencil work is quite striking. What can you tell me about the context of its making? Curator: Consider the Pre-Raphaelite movement, its emphasis on craft and the handmade, and Burne-Jones's own workshop practices. How do you see this study fitting into his larger production and the Victorian art market? Editor: It's fascinating to consider the labor involved in creating even a seemingly simple sketch, and how that labor connects to the final, potentially more elaborate, artwork. Curator: Precisely. And the materials themselves – paper, pencil – are also key to understanding its place within a system of artistic production and consumption. Editor: It makes me appreciate the drawing not just for its aesthetic qualities but also for the work that went into it. Curator: Yes, thinking about art through this lens can reveal so much about its creation and its role in society.