Drapery Study for "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: This is a drapery study by John Singer Sargent for "Israel and the Law," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a pretty straightforward charcoal sketch, but the shadows seem to give it an almost weighty presence. How do you interpret this work, especially considering its connection to the Boston Public Library mural? Curator: Well, consider the context of "Israel and the Law." Sargent was grappling with complex themes of religious history and societal power structures. The drapery, seemingly simple, becomes symbolic. Does the weight you perceive suggest the burden or oppression of the law, perhaps reflecting on how interpretations of law can weigh upon individuals and communities, particularly marginalized ones? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It makes me think about the way fabric can conceal or reveal. Curator: Exactly! This study allows us to consider how Sargent used drapery not just as aesthetic detail, but as a signifier of those dynamics. It certainly adds another layer to how we might view the finished mural.