Face; Eye; Landscape Sketch; verso: Male Figure Study c. 1845 - 1847

Editor: Here we have Sanford Robinson Gifford's sketchbook page, featuring sketches of a face, an eye, and a landscape. It feels so intimate, like a peek into the artist's mind. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let's think about this object as a product of its time. Gifford, working in the 19th century, would have considered this raw documentation as part of his artistic process, not necessarily "art" itself. Editor: So, it is like a factory blueprint for a later artwork? Curator: Exactly. How does this change your understanding of value and labor when viewing the final product? Editor: It makes me appreciate the unseen work that goes into a finished painting. Thanks for sharing your insights! Curator: My pleasure, every little sketch tells us a new story.