A Boy and a Girl (Lovers) c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have "A Boy and a Girl (Lovers)," a charcoal and pencil drawing from around the 18th century, author unknown, housed here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I'm struck by how soft and muted the image is, almost dreamlike. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: For me, the focus is on the materials themselves. Charcoal and pencil offer particular possibilities—the soft gradations, the almost smoky quality achieved through blending. Consider also the paper; its aging and imperfections are integral to the piece. It isn't just a surface but evidence of the work's material history and handling. Editor: So, you're saying that the inherent qualities of the materials used influence how we perceive the subjects themselves? Curator: Precisely! And it challenges a hierarchy. Are we looking at skilled representation, or skillful material manipulation? Were these portraits commissioned? What class were they for? We can't separate the artist's labor, their choices of material which reflect economics and available resources, from the final image we see. The materiality forces a consideration of social and economic context. How was art perceived and produced in that time period? Was it simply decorative, or did even portraiture of loved ones embed the context of manufacture within the home? Editor: I hadn't thought about it like that before, the drawing's "smokiness" suggesting a kind of atmosphere affected by history and material accessibility. Curator: Exactly. Think about who had access to these materials, to the artistic training necessary to employ them. These choices speak volumes beyond the immediate subject. Editor: It definitely changes my perception; I was initially focused on the Romantic undertones in the subjects themselves. Curator: It is about subverting our preconceptions of high art versus something made closer to, or even within the domestic space. We must appreciate the choices the artist made and question them further. Editor: Thank you, I am grateful for this different perspective. Curator: I've gained new ideas, as well! Thank you.