Study of the Artist Standing Sketching; Lowered Banners; Profile Caricature; verso: Facade of a Building 1805 - 1824

Curator: This is a page from a sketchbook by Jacques-Louis David, titled "Study of the Artist Standing Sketching; Lowered Banners; Profile Caricature," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It is undated. Editor: It strikes me as a very private glimpse, almost like peeking over the artist's shoulder. The casual lines suggest a fleeting moment. Curator: The sketchbook format is telling. David likely used it for spontaneous ideas, not as formal preparations. It speaks to the role of sketching in developing revolutionary imagery and Neoclassical ideals. Editor: I notice the lowered banners; such potent symbols. Were they meant to represent defeat or perhaps transition? And the caricature; that’s loaded with psychological implications. Curator: Given David's involvement in the French Revolution, it's easy to imagine the banners symbolizing shifting political power. The caricature adds a layer of personal commentary. Editor: There's a raw honesty here that contrasts with the finished, polished quality of David's history paintings. It’s interesting to observe the juxtaposition of the sketch of the artist and the banners; were the banners perhaps his subject? Curator: Precisely! This is the place to test out ideas and challenge conventions. The intimate scale reinforces its status as a document of artistic thought. Editor: It's like a visual diary entry. I find myself wondering about the artist’s state of mind when making those initial marks. Curator: Absolutely, and viewing this sketch gives us a privileged insight into the creative process during times of great political upheaval.