Study of a classical sculpture 

Editor: This is Jacek Malczewski’s "Study of a classical sculpture," painted in oil paint. It strikes me as a very deliberate, almost academic approach to depicting form. What's your take on this work? Curator: It's interesting to consider the labour involved in this "study." Malczewski isn’t simply capturing an image. He’s actively participating in a historical discourse. Consider the layers of production: the original sculptor's labour to produce a classical form, then Malczewski meticulously reproducing that in paint. It begs the question: what new meaning is created through this act of replication and consumption of historical styles? Editor: I hadn't thought about the repetition of labor, the copy of a copy. Does the choice of oil paint then, further emphasize the layers of production due to the time-consuming process and techniques? Curator: Precisely. Oil paint allows for layering, for revisions, and thus, further embeds Malczewski's process and the very concept of "study" into the work. It moves away from capturing immediate likeness. Look also at the visible brushstrokes - they assert the artist's presence and challenge a purely mimetic approach. How does that interplay between representation and the act of painting shape your interpretation of this artwork now? Editor: I see it as drawing attention to the labour, moving from the initial sculpture and instead towards the skill and craftmanship of Malczewski, who seems to highlight that labor in its making, his visible mark and skill. Thanks for sharing! Curator: Indeed. It is through an analysis of production that we truly understand how meaning shifts and evolves through artistic practice and historical and societal viewpoints.