Portrait of Mrs Tom Plews c. 1877

Editor: Here we have Otto Scholderer's "Portrait of Mrs Tom Plews," a pencil drawing from around 1877. It's quite striking, almost severe. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s interesting to consider this drawing within the context of late 19th-century portraiture. Who was being depicted, and for what purpose? The artistic style and the social standing of both the artist and the sitter can tell us a lot. Do you get a sense of formality, or intimacy from the work? Editor: I see a certain formality. It seems like a very deliberate pose, almost stiff. I'm curious about the choice of materials - a pencil drawing, rather than a more traditional painted portrait. Does that suggest anything about the Plews' social status, or perhaps the artist's own ambitions? Curator: Precisely. A pencil drawing may have been more accessible than a formal oil painting. This piece prompts questions about class and the evolving role of portraiture in making people visible, and whose stories get told in public collections. Did Mrs. Plews have any agency in how she was portrayed? How did it contribute to, or perhaps challenge, the artistic conventions of the time? Editor: That’s a really insightful way to think about it. It wasn’t just about capturing a likeness, but about who got to be seen and how. Curator: Exactly! These pieces invite us to investigate the often invisible power structures operating in the art world and wider society. Looking closer and deeper will provide answers. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing that perspective. Curator: My pleasure, art's historical role provides endless exploration!