Courtyard of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, Venice, Italy. 1913

Curator: John Singer Sargent gives us a glimpse of Venice with his painting "Courtyard of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista". Editor: It's striking. The somber palette and the confined perspective evoke a feeling of melancholy, almost claustrophobia. Curator: Sargent’s application of paint reveals so much about the surface texture and the way light interacts with the architecture itself. Notice the visible brushstrokes and how they define form. Editor: Yes, and how that materiality reinforces the social hierarchy embedded in these spaces. Venetian architecture was as much about power as it was about aesthetics. Sargent captures that. Curator: Absolutely. The work really highlights the interplay between the physical structure and the societal forces at play in late 19th-century Venice. Editor: Thinking about it now, the muted tones become a canvas for understanding the complex history embedded within these walls. Curator: Precisely. It invites us to consider the physical labor and production of this historic site. Editor: Well, Sargent certainly gives us a lot to think about, doesn't he? Curator: He really does, and I hope this gives visitors a richer perspective on this work and the artist’s process.