Design for Monument or Metalwork 

John Flaxman created this Design for Monument or Metalwork using graphite on paper. Flaxman lived through a revolutionary period in both America and France, and his work often embodies the shifting social and political landscapes of his time. Here, we see a design for a monument, sketched with a light hand. While the figures are classical in form, echoing ancient Greek and Roman sculpture, it is important to consider the monument’s purpose within its contemporary context. Who is being memorialized, and what values are being upheld? The monument becomes a stage for the performance of power. Flaxman's sketches invite us to consider not just the aesthetic qualities of the work, but also its potential impact on public discourse. By engaging with art that asks us to think critically about monuments, we reflect on whose stories are told.