La décollation de Saint Jean-Baptiste 1866 - 1869

Editor: This is Pierre Puvis de Chavannes' "The Decollation of Saint John the Baptist," made between 1866 and 1869, using colored pencil. It's a striking scene, of course, but I find myself really drawn to the earthy tones and the visible pencil strokes. It feels very raw and process-oriented. What's your perspective on this piece? Curator: From a materialist lens, I find this drawing incredibly compelling. Consider the accessibility of colored pencils at this time. They were becoming more readily available, suggesting a shift in art production away from exclusively elite materials. Does the use of colored pencil democratize the subject matter at all, stripping it of some of its former high art pomp? Editor: That's a really interesting thought! It's hard to imagine this scene rendered with oil paints and still having the same effect. Do you think the use of the pencil medium creates a feeling of immediacy for this historical narrative? Curator: Precisely. Notice how the visible marks, almost like the textures of labor, become integral to the narrative itself. We’re forced to confront not just the scene, but the very *making* of the scene. How does this awareness influence your experience of the historical event depicted? Editor: I think I focused initially on the artistic choice of materials used, it’s like that also shines light onto broader themes. Thinking about the process makes you more aware of how things are presented rather than accepting an official message. Curator: Precisely! By acknowledging the materials and the making, we unveil underlying social dynamics and power structures implicit to both the medium and the history it is conveying. Editor: This has given me so much to consider. Thanks for your insight into the work, it certainly changes my relationship to art making.