TRYING POSITION OF AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN 

Editor: This pen and ink drawing by John Leech is titled "Trying Position of an Elderly Gentleman." The high-contrast black and white gives it a satirical, almost harsh feel. It seems to comment on… perhaps the absurdity of societal expectations and aging? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it's crucial to consider the historical context. Leech was a prominent cartoonist for Punch magazine, known for his social commentary during the Victorian era. The elderly gentleman, awkwardly positioned for a photo, becomes a vehicle for critiquing class, aging, and the emerging culture of image-making. What power structures are at play when this gentleman is made a spectacle of? Editor: So it's more than just a funny picture; it’s about social critique? Curator: Precisely. Think about who is taking the photograph and who is consuming it. What does it mean for an older gentleman to have to subject himself to this kind of display? Are we laughing *with* him, or *at* him? Leech is forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about how society treats those on the margins, particularly as industrialization changes ideas around labor and usefulness. Editor: That makes me see the drawing completely differently! It’s no longer just an amusing scene, but a commentary on social power and even ageism, presented in this burgeoning visual culture. Curator: Exactly. By juxtaposing the "trying position" with the desire for an image, Leech reveals how vulnerable individuals could become in the face of societal pressures and expectations, reflecting concerns that continue to resonate today.