The Swing 1808 - 1810

Curator: Here we have a sketch by Merry Joseph Blondel entitled "The Swing," held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is that it feels very academic and neoclassical, even as a sketch. The figures and the composition are very controlled. Curator: Precisely. Note the geometric framework, the rhythmic arrangement of figures. Blondel seems preoccupied with establishing order. Editor: And yet, it is just a sketch, so the immediacy of the hand, the graphite on paper. I wonder about the artist’s process here – a study perhaps? Curator: One could argue this reduction to line emphasizes the Platonic ideal, the structure over surface. It’s about form and the relationships between forms. Editor: I see your point, but I’m drawn to the sketch's inherent materiality. The soft gray tones of the pencil hinting at the weight and texture of possible drapery, and how the artist uses the medium's limitations to its advantage. Curator: An intriguing perspective indeed. Editor: It’s been a fascinating conversation, considering this sketch through such different lenses.