Banner; verso: Banner c. 19th century

Curator: Edward Burne-Jones's drawing, titled "Banner," presents, at first glance, a study in monochrome. Editor: It strikes me as rather melancholic. The drape and fall, almost as if the banner is surrendering. Curator: Banners, of course, historically denote identity, allegiance, or even revolution. Burne-Jones might be investigating the symbolic weight, or lack thereof, in the late 19th century. Editor: The material itself seems to be the subject. The way the light defines the folds is almost sculptural, don’t you think? It reminds me of classical drapery studies. Curator: Indeed. The folds can also be read as waves, carrying layers of memory, connecting the subject to larger cultural narratives. Editor: The composition itself is quite clever, cropped tightly at the top, leaving us to fill in the rest of the story. It prompts the viewer to complete the scene. Curator: A silent flag of identity, perhaps a symbol ready to be reimagined. Editor: Precisely. A study in potential.