Sketchbook: New England and Hudson Valley Landscapes 1860 - 1863

Editor: We are looking at Sanford Robinson Gifford's "Sketchbook: New England and Hudson Valley Landscapes." It's a simple, almost severe, dark brown cover. Knowing Gifford was a landscape painter, I'm curious about what this ordinary container held. What can you tell me about its role? Curator: This object represents a deliberate act of witnessing. Consider the cultural value placed on landscape in 19th-century America, and how artists like Gifford contributed to its visual construction. How might this small, portable format democratize access to artistic practice and landscape appreciation? Editor: So, it’s not just about the drawings inside, but the sketchbook itself as a tool? Curator: Precisely. Think about the sketchbook's role in shaping perceptions of nature and national identity. It's a tool for exploration, documentation, and ultimately, the dissemination of a particular vision of America. Editor: That's really interesting, I never considered it that way. Thanks!