Sketchbook: Adirondacks, Pennsylvania 1851 - 1852

Curator: Here we have a sketchbook from Sanford Robinson Gifford, titled simply "Adirondacks, Pennsylvania." Editor: It looks like a well-loved object, battered and worn. There's a real sense of intimacy about something like this. Curator: Absolutely. This book gives us insight into Gifford's artistic process. It's a window into his travels and working methods. Editor: It's small size is interesting. The portable nature of it implies freedom, perhaps a connection to the transcendentalist idea of nature as a place for retreat. Curator: I think you are absolutely right. Remember that the Hudson River School artists were grappling with urbanization during that time. This object is a testament to the importance of landscape. Editor: Seeing the physical wear and tear makes me think of the passage of time and the enduring power of art to connect us to the past. Curator: Indeed, and this sketchbook provides an invaluable look into Gifford's development as an artist.