Romulus and Remus with the Wolf, after the Antique; verso: The Good Shepherd, after the Antique Possibly 1869

Editor: So, this is John Singer Sargent's pencil sketch of "Romulus and Remus with the Wolf," dating from 1869. I’m intrigued by the visible process, the artist's hand so evident. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Well, consider what it means to copy an antique in the 19th century. Sargent isn’t just representing an image; he's engaging with a whole system of artistic production. The means of reproducing the original sculpture – plaster casts, engravings – and their consumption become key. How does this reproductive process affect the status of the original, and of Sargent's drawing itself? Editor: That's a fascinating point! It makes me think about the commercial aspects of art even back then. I hadn't considered the role of reproductions in shaping our understanding. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. The sketch reminds us that art exists not in isolation, but within complex networks of labor, materiality, and exchange.