Caricature of Face; verso: Sketch of Boxers; Hotel Eggish; Caricature of Face 1868 - 1869

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Caricature of Face; verso: Sketch of Boxers; Hotel Eggish; Caricature of Face," a simple pencil drawing. It looks like a little study, doesn't it? Editor: It does, but the face itself—oh, it's sly, impish even! There's something primordial about it, like a doodle from a dream, but with a hint of malice. Curator: Caricatures often serve as a form of social commentary, even subconscious projections of suppressed traits. Perhaps Sargent was exorcising a facet of his own personality. Editor: Or, maybe, just maybe, the man in the hotel annoyed him! You know, sometimes the simplest answer is the truest. It makes me wonder, though, what that boxers sketch looks like on the other side. Curator: Yes, that is a mystery, isn't it? It's strange to see such minimal lines contain such an expressive face, when Sargent was known for his lush brushwork. Food for thought. Editor: Absolutely. It's a tiny spark of rebellious energy trapped on paper—makes you want to find out what stories that face could tell.