Study for Moses, Boston Public Library (recto and verso) 1890 - 1895

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Study for Moses, Boston Public Library," a pencil sketch. It's intriguing to see the process behind the final mural. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the materiality of this study. The graphite, the paper—tools of production employed to create a monumental public work. How does examining this preparatory sketch, a seemingly humble object, challenge our understanding of "high art" and the labor involved? Editor: That's a great point. I never really considered the physical effort required. Curator: Exactly. The sketch reveals the artist's process, the planning and revisions. What does this tell us about the relationship between the artist, his materials, and the final, grand narrative in the library? Editor: It makes the final mural feel more accessible, more human. Curator: Precisely. It decenters the myth of effortless genius and shows the reality of artistic production. We can better understand the consumption of art versus the means of its production.