Sarah tager afsked med Isak, Abraham knælende 1777 - 1867

Curator: Editor: We are looking at J.L. Lund's drawing "Sarah Taking Leave of Isaac, Abraham Kneeling," made sometime between 1777 and 1867. It's ink and pencil on paper. The scene is tender, but knowing the story makes it incredibly heavy. What's your perspective on this particular piece? Curator: The emotional intensity is definitely palpable. The artist’s reliance on linear structure emphasizes form and design. What about the material production—paper, pencil, ink—catches your attention? Editor: The sketch-like quality makes it seem so immediate, like we are looking into Lund’s artistic process itself. Curator: Precisely. It lacks the polished finish typically associated with high art. The roughness directs our focus to the very labor of creation and artistic practice itself. Do you consider this piece ‘high art’ or something else? Editor: That's interesting. Given it's a preparatory sketch, it's almost like seeing the behind-the-scenes work. And given that Lund was working during a period when the academies stressed "histories," which required multiple studies for "perfect" paintings, this kind of study highlights labor...the expectation of labor. Curator: The sketch as labor reveals a lot, right? We’re not just appreciating a finished product; we’re witnessing the artist's hand at work, grappling with materials and narrative. Editor: This makes me rethink my understanding of what constitutes 'art' – it is not always a grand, finished statement, but sometimes an intimate glimpse into the process of creation. Thanks, that's really insightful! Curator: Absolutely. Materiality and labor open new doors for understanding and appreciating art.