Nicola D'Inverno (?) c. 1890 - 1915

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Nicola D'Inverno (?),", a charcoal drawing. I'm struck by the raw, almost unfinished quality. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Note the paper itself, its texture and likely cost. What does this suggest about Sargent's intent? Was this a preparatory sketch, intended for a larger project? Consider the social context of portraiture at the time – who commissioned such works, and what materials were typically employed versus what we see here. Editor: So, the focus shifts from just the subject to the actual making of the art? Curator: Precisely. The drawing's very existence, the choice of material, raises questions about artistic labor and value. It is less about the idealized portrait and more about the means of its production. Editor: That's a great perspective; I hadn’t considered the material's role in communicating meaning.