Woman's Head in Profile; Columbine; verso: Sleeping Dog; Hen; Leaves; Braided Hair 1847

Editor: This is a page from Sanford Robinson Gifford's sketchbook, featuring graphite studies of a woman's head, a columbine flower, and other small sketches. It's interesting to see the artist's process so directly. What can you tell us about how the materials inform our understanding of Gifford's work here? Curator: The immediacy of graphite on paper reveals a great deal. The sketchbook itself becomes a primary source, documenting the artist's labor and exploration. Consider the quality of the paper, the graphite grade – these indicate the accessibility and therefore perhaps the frequency of such exercises. Editor: So, the readily available materials hint at a casual, almost daily practice? Curator: Precisely! It challenges the notion of the artist as solely a producer of finished, monumental works. We see instead the value placed on the act of observation and recording. Editor: It makes the artist feel more approachable. I see artistic practice as a kind of labor. Thank you for sharing your insights. Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about the physical process always enriches our understanding.