I have spent much of the past month writing object labels. It’s one of the most enjoyable parts of my work, but also among the most challenging. Our profession can be guilty of packing too much detail into writing, which always creates barriers just where we are trying to remove them.
In periods such as this, I find it helpful to read the writers I want to emulate. The first book I reach for is EH Gombrich’s A Little History of the World, written in German in 1935 but published in English in 2005. Known more for his work on the history of art, Gombrich was invited at the age of 26 to write a history of the world for young readers. The result is an achievement – a children’s book that is still compelling for adults.
Gombrich’s task was not so different to ours as curators – to communicate grand, complicated concepts in an accessible and enjoyable way. He achieves this in a encouraging and empathetic voice, and is never patronising. He doesn’t obsess over dates or details, but instead conveys the humanity behind the stories.
In doing this he shows that, while there are many differences between people, there is still much that unites us.
The book is by no means comprehensive (what history of the world is?), but it does manage to tackle some of the difficult subjects. Everyone who writes for museums should own a copy.
Simon Brown is the curator of collections at Newstead Abbey, Nottingham
In periods such as this, I find it helpful to read the writers I want to emulate. The first book I reach for is EH Gombrich’s A Little History of the World, written in German in 1935 but published in English in 2005. Known more for his work on the history of art, Gombrich was invited at the age of 26 to write a history of the world for young readers. The result is an achievement – a children’s book that is still compelling for adults.
Gombrich’s task was not so different to ours as curators – to communicate grand, complicated concepts in an accessible and enjoyable way. He achieves this in a encouraging and empathetic voice, and is never patronising. He doesn’t obsess over dates or details, but instead conveys the humanity behind the stories.
In doing this he shows that, while there are many differences between people, there is still much that unites us.
The book is by no means comprehensive (what history of the world is?), but it does manage to tackle some of the difficult subjects. Everyone who writes for museums should own a copy.
Simon Brown is the curator of collections at Newstead Abbey, Nottingham