A Paviour Seen from Behind 

Editor: This is Joseph Highmore’s sketch, "A Paviour Seen from Behind." It's a small ink drawing and it captures a figure working, almost anonymous. What does this image tell us about labor and representation in Highmore's time? Curator: It's interesting how Highmore chooses to depict labor, not through idealization, but through the everyday. It prompts us to consider the politics of visibility. Who gets seen, and how? Is this a celebration or an observation of societal structure? Editor: It does feel observational. So, this isn't necessarily about celebrating the working class? Curator: Perhaps it’s less celebration and more a subtle commentary on their position within the 18th-century social hierarchy, but it requires further investigation of Highmore's intentions. Editor: I see. It gives me a lot to think about in terms of social dynamics. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us that art is always in dialogue with its context.