Shawangunk Lake, New York (recto and verso) 1861

Editor: Here we have Sanford Robinson Gifford's "Shawangunk Lake, New York," a small graphite sketch on paper. It feels like a fleeting impression, almost ephemeral. What strikes you about the materiality and process here? Curator: I'm drawn to the paper itself. Consider its manufacture, likely mass-produced, intended for functional use. Gifford transforms it, through his labor, into something "artistic." This tension between everyday material and elevated subject is interesting. How does the ready availability of materials shape artistic production? Editor: That’s a great point. I never thought about how the accessibility of paper would affect the art created. It's almost democratic. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It shifts the focus from rare materials to the artist's hand and vision, democratizing the landscape tradition, wouldn't you agree?