Sketch of Two Chamberlains Holding Their Hats 1805 - 1824

Editor: This is Jacques-Louis David's "Sketch of Two Chamberlains Holding Their Hats," a pencil drawing. It looks like a quick study. What do you see in terms of its historical context? Curator: Looking at the materials—pencil on paper, a sketchbook page—immediately suggests a process of production tied to the artist's workshop. Consider David's role as a teacher, churning out classically-trained artists. Editor: So, you see the sketch as more about artistic production than the figures themselves? Curator: Precisely! The very act of sketching, the repetitive motions, the training involved—it speaks to the industrial aspects of art-making during that period, challenging our romantic notions of the artist.