Seated Angel with Sword for "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent’s "Seated Angel with Sword," a charcoal drawing. The angel seems very muscular, almost industrial in its power. What can you tell me about Sargent's process here? Curator: Sargent’s choice of charcoal, a readily available material, challenges the preciousness often associated with 'high art'. Note how the rapid strokes and areas of smudging highlight the physicality of making, and how this preliminary sketch suggests a mass production of imagery, designed for consumption within a grand architectural project. Editor: So, the industrial feel comes not just from the angel’s physique, but also from the production itself? Curator: Precisely. Sargent's mural work, including this sketch, was intended for public consumption, thereby implicating it within a larger system of social and material exchange. Editor: I never considered the socioeconomic implications of a sketch before. Thanks for broadening my view! Curator: It's about understanding how materials and their use reflect and shape cultural values.