Studies of Hands of Angel at Far Left Holding Sword, for "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Curator: John Singer Sargent created this charcoal study, "Studies of Hands of Angel at Far Left Holding Sword, for 'Israel and the Law,' Boston Public Library," as preparation for a larger mural. Editor: There's a raw, almost visceral quality to it. The charcoal smudges lend a sense of urgency, and the hands gripping the sword... it feels powerful. Curator: Sargent's hand studies reflect broader societal anxieties surrounding law and justice in the late 19th century. Consider the angel's role—a divine figure wielding a symbol of earthly authority. Editor: The materiality definitely speaks to process. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the paper, building up these forms. It bridges the gap between the conceptual and the tangible. Curator: Exactly. And in viewing this study, we're also invited to consider the social and cultural narratives that position the angel's action as just, and the power dynamics inherent in such depictions. Editor: It's fascinating how a simple study reveals so much about the labor of creating art and the loaded symbolism within it. A potent mix of form and context, isn't it?