Two Sketches of a Swan 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we see John Singer Sargent's "Two Sketches of a Swan," a pencil drawing. It feels so immediate and raw. What do you see in this piece, particularly from a material perspective? Curator: The paper itself speaks volumes. Its texture, its possible origin. Was it readily available, mass-produced sketch paper, or something more bespoke? How did its absorbency affect Sargent’s mark-making? The swiftness of the marks also suggests an urgency, a quick capturing of form, a rapid cycle of production. Editor: So, the materials tell a story of production and consumption. Curator: Precisely. The sketch isn't just about the swan; it's about the social and economic context that allowed for its creation. It makes us think about the resources involved in art-making. Editor: I never considered that before. Thanks for shedding light on that! Curator: My pleasure. It is all about the labor and the materiality of art, after all.