Read this passage.

As a curator of the Art Institute of Chicago, I have witnessed the changing subject matter of American folk art. In this essay, “Beyond the Barns,” Ana Ramon explores the new faces and objects of this beloved genre.

What feature distinguishes this passage as a foreword?

It provides a high-interest “hook.”
It offers background information on the topic.
It is written by an expert on the book’s subject.
It defines key terms related to the subject.