Scales for "Judgment" Lunette; verso: Sketch for "Hell," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent’s sketch, "Scales for 'Judgment' Lunette; verso: Sketch for 'Hell,'" made without a specified date. It’s currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The wispy lines give it an ethereal quality, almost like a half-formed thought. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, it feels like a glimpse into the artist's creative process, doesn't it? Sargent is figuring out the architectural elements, maybe even grappling with the weight of judgment itself. Notice the sketch on the verso as well, the other side of the coin. It suggests that Sargent thought about heaven and hell simultaneously. Perhaps he's asking us, what truly hangs in the balance? Editor: That's fascinating, I hadn't thought about the other sketch's significance, both are interconnected. Curator: Exactly. It's a reminder that art is not just the finished product, but also the journey of creation.