He stoods silent before King 

Editor: This is “He stoods silent before King”, a painting by Walter Crane. It's a very theatrical composition, almost like a scene from a play. There's a king on a throne, a warrior figure approaching him, and lots of onlookers. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a potent exploration of power dynamics, viewed through a lens steeped in Orientalism and Arts and Crafts aesthetics. Notice how Crane deploys historical references, perhaps unconsciously echoing Victorian imperial narratives. How does the central figure's silence strike you? Is it deference, defiance, or something in between? Editor: I initially saw it as deference, but the more I look, the more it feels ambiguous. There’s a certain tension in his posture. The ornate details almost feel like they’re weighing him down. Curator: Exactly. Consider the context in which Crane was working. The Arts and Crafts movement was a direct response to industrialization, often romanticizing pre-industrial societies, sometimes idealizing them through an orientalist gaze. This painting, though seemingly historical, speaks to contemporary anxieties around class, labour, and empire. Editor: So, it's not just a historical scene, but a commentary on Victorian society's values and concerns. Is Crane, then, potentially critiquing the exercise of power? Curator: He may be prompting us to question the very nature of authority, both within the historical narrative and within his contemporary social fabric. Whose stories are valued, whose voices are amplified, and whose are silenced. What impact do such hierarchies have in shaping society? Editor: I never considered it in relation to class and labour issues of the time. Thank you! Curator: And I now consider how the painting continues to engage in the dialogues concerning societal disparities.