Study for East Wall ("Synagogue," "Sermon on the Mount," and "Church"), Boston Public Library; verso: Drapery Study for "Heaven," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1919

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Study for East Wall," a pencil sketch for his Boston Public Library murals. It feels so preliminary, but you can see the distinct panels. What do you see in this piece beyond a preparatory drawing? Curator: This sketch, with its depiction of religious spaces, speaks to the complicated relationship between faith, power, and public institutions at the turn of the century. Sargent's attempt to represent diverse faiths in a public space raises questions about inclusion, representation, and the negotiation of cultural identities. How does this imagery engage or challenge the dominant narratives of the time? Editor: It's interesting to consider how these depictions might have been received then, and how we interpret them now. It makes me think about the role of public art in reflecting societal values. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about how the power dynamics are at play helps us understand how seemingly simple sketches can be loaded with social and political meaning.