The Eaglet, New Hampshire; verso: Partial Mountain Landscape 1864

Curator: This is Sanford Robinson Gifford’s double-sided sketch, “The Eaglet, New Hampshire; verso: Partial Mountain Landscape," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's surprisingly minimal. Raw, almost, like seeing the artist's immediate thoughts laid bare. Curator: Indeed. The eagle, though faint, connects to potent symbols of freedom and the American identity, while the landscape verso hints at nature's grandeur. Editor: And what about the paper itself, the weave, the way the graphite interacts? This isn't just about subject; it's about the labor and conditions of artistic creation in that moment. Curator: Yes, the very act of sketching, the fleeting impression captured becomes significant. A way to record history as it unfolds. Editor: It really makes you consider the art in art materials. Curator: Precisely, the dual nature of symbolism and materials offer contrasting, yet fascinating perspectives.