Study for the Prophet Joel, Boston Public Library (recto and verso) 1892 - 1894

Curator: John Singer Sargent created this charcoal study, "Study for the Prophet Joel, Boston Public Library," now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's strikingly raw, isn’t it? The charcoal feels almost sculptural, shaping the prophet's robes with such immediacy. Curator: Sargent's commission at the Boston Public Library aimed to create a dialogue between cultures, but his original vision sparked controversy. Editor: Knowing this was a study, it’s fascinating to consider his process. Was he satisfied with the weight of the charcoal or did he consider ink or washes? Curator: The medium and process are subordinate to its social and political meanings. These early murals were meant to be celebratory. Editor: Perhaps so, but the materiality still speaks to a working-class aesthetic, which counters any easy notion of pure celebration. Interesting how those decisions ripple outward.