Past and Present, No. 2 1858

Editor: This is Augustus Leopold Egg’s *Past and Present, No. 2*. It’s an oil painting showing a woman and child in a dimly lit room. It feels very heavy and somber. What do you make of it? Curator: I’m struck by the clear division of labor and social roles implied by the materials. The fine textiles of the bed versus the plain, almost coarse fabric of the woman's dress. Notice also the window. Editor: The window? Curator: Yes, its manufactured glass contrasts sharply with the domestic interior, framing a cityscape—a world of commerce and industry to which this woman seems barred. The painting's very materiality speaks to Victorian-era constraints and class divisions. What do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered the material aspects so directly. That’s a fascinating perspective! Curator: Indeed, it helps us understand the painting's social commentary.