Crucifixion (recto and verso) c. 1845 - 1847

Curator: Looking at this open sketchbook, we find two drawings by Sanford Robinson Gifford, titled "Crucifixion (recto and verso)." Editor: My first thought is, "raw." The sketchy lines feel more like a cry than a composed image. Curator: I agree; there’s an immediacy to the graphite on paper, a direct connection to the artist's hand. The scale, only about 5 by 9 centimeters, suggests a private, almost furtive, act of creation. Editor: Absolutely. Given the subject matter, I wonder about the paper stock, perhaps cheap, or readily available? Did it impact his mark-making and intentions? Curator: That's a clever insight. The ephemeral quality of the medium mirrors, perhaps, the transient nature of faith, or the artist's struggle with it. Editor: And the physicality of the book itself – a portable space for exploration and, indeed, struggle. It makes me think about labor and the constraints of creation. Curator: Gifford's ability to convey such profound emotion within such a small, humble format is, quite frankly, awe-inspiring. Editor: It leaves me contemplating not just the art, but the circumstances of its making.