Sketch for a Nameplate for Edward D. Adams 1892

Alphonse Legros made this sketch for a nameplate in 1892, using pen and brown ink on paper. The medium itself gives us insight into the artist's methods. Here we see the hand of the artist at work, thinking through his design directly with pen on paper. The use of brown ink lends the sketch a warm, antique quality, while also highlighting the precision and control of Legros' line work. The nameplate itself is designed with careful attention to detail, from the ornate flourishes and stylized face at the top to the subtle curves of the frame. This kind of design was made to be realized in metal – likely cast bronze. Think about all the work required: the processing of the ore, the smelting, the skilled labor of the foundry workers, not to mention the final polishing. This drawing is only the beginning of a longer process. Considering the making allows us to appreciate the rich history of craftsmanship and industrial production behind even a simple nameplate. It challenges us to think more broadly about art and design.