“When masquerades do their work, proposing alternate faces for the ones we know or might expect, their impersonations are not subtle. Rather, they actively reach out to signal that a charade is in order, and a role is being played. They can’t help but pull appraisal toward their own contrivance, as such. A viewer may … Continued

Role play and identity in an artist’s book

Photos of Sargent hands by Dennis Kardon

This essay has been published in conjunction with a survey of Petlin’s work at the National Arts Club, on view through January 4