Making Sailors: Youthful Ambition c. 1917

Editor: This is "Making Sailors: Youthful Ambition" by Sir Frank Brangwyn, it looks like an etching. The boy seems to be dreaming of another life, maybe at sea. How do you interpret the symbolism in this piece? Curator: Considering Brangwyn’s context, shouldn't we question the glorification of maritime service? This image, created in a time of expanding colonial powers, can be seen as a recruitment poster, subtly promoting a life that often exploited working-class individuals. How does this impact our reading of "ambition?" Editor: So, his "ambition" might really be about the navy using him for their own gains? I never thought of it that way. Curator: Exactly. Art often reflects the power structures of its time, shaping perceptions and even desires. Editor: That makes me see it in a completely new, critical light. Thanks! Curator: Glad to offer a different perspective. It is always important to question, "Who does this narrative serve?"