Mountain Landscape, Hohe Göll, Hintersee, Austria Possibly 1871

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Mountain Landscape, Hohe Göll, Hintersee, Austria". It’s a pencil sketch and the mountains look so imposing. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This work reveals Sargent's process and materials. The sketch is on paper, readily available and transportable, aligning with the rise of tourism and leisure. He's not just depicting a landscape; he's engaging in a practice made possible by specific social and economic conditions. Editor: So, it’s not just about the beautiful scenery? Curator: Precisely. The act of sketching itself, the accessibility of materials, and the leisure time to create all speak to the means of art production, challenging the idea of art as purely aesthetic. Editor: I never thought about landscape art in that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about art this way helps us understand its connection to society.