[title not known] c. 1858

Curator: This watercolor work is by Reuben Townroe, a British artist born in 1835. While the artwork doesn't have a known title, it resides in the Tate Collections. Editor: My first thought is, wow, that's a mood! It feels like a quiet corner, maybe a pause in a theatrical production, the light hitting just so on her face. Curator: The theatrical metaphor may be quite apt. Townroe worked in a period when history painting and romanticism were still dominant, and we see a figure that resembles classical statuary. Editor: There's a raw, unfinished quality, too, that I adore. It’s a sketch, not overly polished, letting you see the artist's hand at work. And the oval setting, it's almost like looking at a cameo. Curator: That form definitely echoes the neoclassical revivals popular during the late 19th century. Editor: It makes you wonder about the untold stories behind such fleeting moments. Curator: Indeed, and considering Townroe's era, it opens up questions of gendered representation in the arts. Editor: Right. It's fascinating how a simple sketch can spark so many different threads. Curator: Precisely, an important work that needs a title!