Side Box Sketches 1786

Editor: This is "Side Box Sketches" by Samuel Alken, dating from 1786. It looks like a watercolor print, and it’s currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm immediately struck by how it captures such candid, almost gossipy, scenes of theatre-goers. What is your interpretation of this work? Curator: Well, let's consider the historical context. This was a time when attending the theatre was a significant social event, especially for the upper classes. Alken is not just depicting a scene, but the *culture* of theatre-going. Notice how each vignette subtly mocks the elite. We see vanity in their elaborate costumes, boredom, social dynamics, and perhaps, the shallowness of their concerns versus the drama on stage. Editor: So it's like social commentary disguised as simple portraits? Do you think that making it into a print meant it could reach more people than just those depicted? Curator: Precisely! The medium is the message. Prints allowed for wider circulation, broadening this satire's reach beyond the aristocratic circles it critiques. What do you make of Alken including four separate 'boxes' on the one sheet? Editor: It’s almost like he’s presenting multiple perspectives or instances of similar behaviors to highlight the universality of this social performance. Almost like a collage. I guess that would resonate today too, given the public nature of social media. Curator: That's a great connection. This wasn't simply observation but active participation in shaping public perception, and a great insight to a modern analogy. These works reinforced certain narratives about class, taste, and social values. Editor: I see now! Thanks for shedding some light on the social implications within this piece. It’s made me rethink how even seemingly simple art can be politically charged. Curator: And hopefully, that insight underscores the enduring relationship between art and society, and how artworks both reflect and shape the cultures in which they exist.