Wall Relief of Three Egyptian Figures; verso: Study of Egyptian Figure c. 1891

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Wall Relief of Three Egyptian Figures," a pencil drawing. The sketchiness gives it an ephemeral feel. What strikes you about it? Curator: It's fascinating how Sargent, known for portraiture, engaged with Egyptian motifs. The sketch reveals his process, stripping away illusion to expose the materiality of the drawing itself. What does copying Egyptian motifs mean in the context of 19th-century artistic production and consumption? Editor: So, it's less about the subject and more about Sargent's interaction with it and the artistic process. Interesting! Curator: Precisely. We see the gears of production turning, exposing the artist’s labor and the cultural consumption inherent in his choice of subject.