Ancient Walls, 1904 (from Sketchbook) 1904

This is a quick pencil sketch of Ancient Walls by Mary Newbold Sargent, made in 1904, probably done on location. I can imagine her sitting there with her sketchbook, quickly capturing the scene before her. I love the way she used lines to suggest the rough texture of the walls, the way the towers rise up in the distance, and the foliage in front of them. See how the walls seem to emerge from the landscape, a part of it, not separate? The details are minimal, but they convey a sense of the age and history embedded in these walls. This little drawing reminds me of the importance of observation. Sargent wasn’t trying to create a masterpiece; she was simply trying to capture what she saw, what she felt in that moment. It’s a beautiful example of how the simplest marks can communicate so much, and a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be grand to be meaningful.