The Sculptor 

Lilla Cabot Perry painted this image of a sculptor at work using oil on canvas. The choice of oil paint itself is telling: pigments suspended in linseed oil, a refined medium that came to define the academy. This lends a particular softness to the image, a haze that mutes the subject's features and dress. In her hands, she holds a small carving, perhaps made of plaster or wax, materials easily worked but also associated with preparatory models rather than final, monumental sculpture. The sculptor's focused gaze and the delicate manipulation of her tools underscore the intimacy and precision required in the making process, the image of a maker as distinct from that of an artist. Perry prompts us to consider the artistic labor involved in the creation of sculpture, rather than only celebrating the finished object. Considering the materials, processes, and context in which an artwork is created allows us to fully appreciate the choices made by the artist, challenging traditional notions about art and craft.