Going to the Battle 1858

Editor: So, here we have Edward Burne-Jones’s ink drawing, “Going to the Battle,” from 1858. The detail is striking for ink work. It definitely gives me a feeling of foreboding… a heaviness despite its delicate lines. What strikes you most about it? Curator: I'm drawn to the intricate details, yes, but especially in how they reflect the material conditions of the time. Look closely at the figures' garments – the textures, the patterns. These aren't just decorative; they speak to the textile production, trade routes, and social status that defined Victorian society. Editor: That’s fascinating. So, you're seeing these details as evidence of… economic forces at play? Curator: Exactly! And consider the very act of drawing. Ink wasn't simply a neutral medium. Its availability, the skill required to use it, the time investment... these all point to specific conditions of artistic production within Burne-Jones’s social context. It elevates craft, don't you think? Editor: Definitely something I hadn't considered – seeing the medium itself as a statement. Does the narrative then become almost secondary to the material story? Curator: Not secondary, interwoven! The 'battle' becomes a backdrop for exploring the complex tapestry of Victorian life. Are the characters going to battle, or are they representations of industrial production and consumption marching forward, ready for their own war of sorts? Editor: Wow, that really reframes it. I was so caught up in the potential symbolism; I completely missed the material conditions telling their own story. Curator: Precisely. Recognizing materiality challenges these older assumptions about art history; in this way, our appreciation of the historical and social implications evolves.