Kneeling Female Figure (from Sketchbook) 1857 - 1860

Editor: So, here we have John Quincy Adams Ward's "Kneeling Female Figure" from around 1857 to 1860, done in pen and ink on paper. It has this really delicate, almost fragile quality. What jumps out at you when you look at this? Curator: The first thing that strikes me is the paper itself – its evident texture, and the marks upon it. Ink, as a medium, carries so much weight, historically. Its accessibility meant that drawing could be both a method of artistic study, evident here in the quickly hatched marks across her clothing, but also as a method for documenting and codifying the world. The scale of the figure relative to the sheet further suggests this more as an observational exercise rather than an expressive piece. Editor: Observational, yes. It does feel like we're catching a glimpse of her. Does the type of ink impact your reading? Curator: Absolutely. The uniform darkness suggests a commercially produced ink. The standardization of art supplies reflects the expanding art market and academic training of the period. How might this availability shape Ward's artistic practice and choices? Was he influenced by the reproductive potential inherent in drawing as well? These mass produced artworks shape artistic value! Editor: So it's not just the image itself, but how accessible both the materials and, potentially, reproductions of this drawing might have been. Did that democratize art in some way, or did it further solidify existing hierarchies? Curator: A complex interplay, certainly. Easier access to materials allowed a greater number of individuals to participate in art production, yet the existing social structures dictated who gained recognition and economic success. Looking closer, where does the application of the ink seem most purposeful? Editor: Probably her face, and where her clothing folds on the left of her skirt – these are the darkest parts. Thank you, that gives me so much to consider regarding how even the base materials can have an impact on our understanding. Curator: Indeed. Examining materiality, and the modes of artistic production provides critical insight!