Sketch of a Studio Interior with Reclining Figure; verso: Sketches of a Spanish Dancer c. 1880 - 1881

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Sketch of a Studio Interior with Reclining Figure," created with graphite on paper. It feels like a glimpse into the artist's workspace. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm drawn to the evidence of process – the rapid, exploratory lines. Consider the materiality of the graphite itself, a readily available and relatively inexpensive medium. It democratizes the act of creation, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely. It feels less precious somehow. Curator: Exactly! Sargent, known for society portraits, here reveals the labor and materiality underlying even his most polished works. The sketch shows the means of production stripped bare. What do you make of that? Editor: It makes me appreciate the work that goes into art. Curator: Precisely. It bridges the gap between the finished product and the artist's hand.