Oxen, Carrara 1911 - 1913

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's watercolor, "Oxen, Carrara." The loose brushstrokes and muted palette create a somber mood, yet there’s also a sense of the animals' power. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I see a deliberate commentary on labor and landscape. Sargent, though known for portraiture, here depicts working animals, their bodies almost blending into the Carrara quarry. Does it strike you as romanticizing labor or exposing the burden placed on these animals? Editor: I hadn't considered the connection to the quarry. I suppose it hints at both, the beauty and the burden. Curator: Precisely. And within the context of late 19th century art, isn't it compelling how Sargent avoids idealizing rural life, instead offering a glimpse into the realities of labor and the environment?