Sketchbook c. 1880 - 1886

Editor: This is Edward Burne-Jones’ Sketchbook, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a small, unassuming book, but I wonder what’s inside. What significance might this object hold, beyond its humble appearance? Curator: Absolutely, its power lies in its potential. Consider the late 19th century, a time of intense social and artistic upheaval. A sketchbook represents an artist's private space, a site of experimentation free from the constraints of the market. What kind of subversive ideas might Burne-Jones have been working through in private? Editor: That's fascinating! So, it’s not just about the finished artwork, but the process and context behind it? Curator: Precisely! This sketchbook is a powerful document of resistance against the rigid artistic norms of the period. It's a challenge to the very notion of artistic genius being separate from everyday life. Editor: I see! It changes my whole perspective. Thanks! Curator: Mine too! Thinking about the potential for subversion is always enlightening.