Bacchus and Ariadne (Sketch for "Autumn" of "The Four Seasons") c. 19th century

Editor: Delacroix's "Bacchus and Ariadne," a sketch, feels raw and immediate. I'm struck by the visible brushstrokes. How does the materiality of the paint contribute to its meaning? Curator: Consider how Delacroix’s quick brushwork and layered pigments served the purposes of mass production through preparatory sketches. It’s about artistic labor – the physical act of applying paint to canvas, replicated across his atelier. Editor: So, the sketch itself becomes a commodity, part of a system? Curator: Precisely. We're not just seeing divine figures but also evidence of the artist’s, and assistants', hand and how that factors into the art market. Editor: That reframes the work. I appreciate considering the means of production. Curator: And that shifts our appreciation to understand the cultural impact that artistry has upon the world.