Elbow, Knee and Foot for the Law, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: This is a study by John Singer Sargent called "Elbow, Knee and Foot for the Law." It looks like a charcoal sketch for a larger project. It feels unfinished and somewhat unsettling. What was Sargent trying to capture here? Curator: Sargent designed this sketch for his controversial mural at the Boston Public Library. It’s one of several studies for the larger panel depicting Judaism and Law, which received criticism for its stereotypical representations. Why do you find it unsettling? Editor: The fragmented body and the heavy drapery feel oppressive. Were these feelings common in the representation of Jewish figures at the time? Curator: Absolutely. Think about the historical context; such depictions were often tools used to perpetuate prejudice. Sargent’s work, while celebrated for its technical skill, also reflects the problematic visual rhetoric of its era. Editor: So, this sketch, though unfinished, is a potent reflection of the social biases present in even celebrated art? Curator: Precisely. It's a reminder of how art can both reflect and reinforce societal prejudices.