Study for "Sermon on the Mount," Boston Public Library; verso: Study for "Synagogue" and "Church," Boston Public Library c. 1916 - 1919

Editor: This is a fascinating sketch by John Singer Sargent, titled "Study for 'Sermon on the Mount,' Boston Public Library; verso: Study for 'Synagogue' and 'Church,' Boston Public Library." It’s quite minimal, just pencil on paper. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the means of its production. As a preparatory drawing for a large-scale mural project, this sketch reveals Sargent’s initial engagement with both sacred and civic spaces. The very act of sketching, of using a readily available material like pencil, democratizes the artistic process. It pulls it away from the grand narrative. Editor: So, you see the material itself as significant? Curator: Absolutely. The accessibility of pencil and paper contrasts with the eventual grand scale of the murals. Consider the labor involved in transforming this fleeting sketch into monumental art for public consumption. Editor: That's a great point. I never thought about the contrast in labor like that. Curator: Thinking about art in terms of labor, materiality, and production methods really reframes our understanding, doesn’t it?