Study for "Commerce" c. 1885

John La Farge made this study for "Commerce" using graphite on paper, a common choice for preparatory sketches. The wispy lines belie the grand ambitions of this design. Though just a study, this work gives us insight into La Farge’s methodology. The composition is divided into three panels, each densely populated with allegorical figures that evoke the idea of commerce. Notice the repetition of motifs – boats, classical drapery, and putti, all rendered with a delicate hand. This was no casual doodle; it's a carefully considered arrangement of visual elements. La Farge was deeply involved in the artistic movements of his time, yet he also engaged with the commercial realities of art production. A sketch like this was a means to an end – a step in the process of creating larger, commissioned works. The drawing is a reminder that even the most ethereal concepts have to be grounded in the practicalities of labor and production. By examining the making of this piece, we gain a richer understanding of its meaning.