Sketchbook ("Lat[e]ish Decoration"): Boston Public Library 19th-20th century

Curator: John Singer Sargent's sketchbook, "Lat[e]ish Decoration": Boston Public Library" offers a peek into the artist's mind, though this is just the cover we're seeing right now. Editor: Stark, almost severe. The neutral fabric and that small, scribbled label disrupt the visual field just enough to pique curiosity. Curator: Sargent's sketchbooks served as portable studios, allowing him to capture fleeting impressions and experiment with compositions. This one would have been part of his process while working on his murals for the Boston Public Library. Editor: Absolutely. There's a tension here between the mundane object—a simple sketchbook—and the potential for artistic brilliance it represents. It's a fascinating dichotomy. Curator: It speaks volumes about the role of these preparatory objects in relation to grand public art. These murals reflected Sargent's vision of history and civilization for the public. Editor: It's compelling how this unassuming object facilitated such monumental work. A quiet, material object that embodies cultural ambitions.