Back of a Leopard Lying Down 

Editor: Here we have John Macallan Swan's "Back of a Leopard Lying Down," a sketch from the Tate Collections. It's quite small, and the brown paper gives it an earthy feel. I’m curious, what aspects of the making of this artwork stand out to you? Curator: The immediacy of the sketch highlights the artist's labor. Consider the economic context – Swan likely made many studies, perhaps for larger works. Did these sketches function as commodities themselves, or were they purely preparatory? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't thought about the sketch as a commodity itself. Curator: It forces us to consider the artist’s role in a system of production and consumption. How does the raw materiality of the paper and charcoal contrast with the exoticism associated with the leopard? Editor: I see what you mean now. Thinking about the materials and Swan's process really shifts my perspective. Curator: Indeed, it reveals art as a form of work, deeply embedded in its historical moment.