Coptic Church Interior, Old Cairo c. 1891

Editor: Here we see John Singer Sargent's "Coptic Church Interior, Old Cairo." It's a pencil sketch, and the lines are so delicate. What strikes you about the way Sargent has rendered this space? Curator: Well, I'm drawn to the process itself. Notice how the sketch emphasizes the architectural structure but stops short of depicting any of the labor required to create this place of worship. Editor: I see what you mean! It's almost as if the people who built and use the church are invisible in this image. Curator: Precisely. Sargent's gaze flattens the socio-economic reality of the materials and the work involved, leaving only a stylized view of the religious space. Editor: That gives me a totally different perspective. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's all about understanding the forces at play in the making of art.