Litany of the Virgin Mary 19th-20th century

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent’s "Litany of the Virgin Mary", currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a sketch, almost ephemeral in its lightness. What strikes you about the composition? Curator: The pale tonality certainly contributes to the work's ethereal quality. Note how the artist utilizes the texture of the paper itself as an integral part of the visual experience. The varying pressure applied in the inscription creates a dynamic interplay between legibility and abstraction. Editor: It’s like the words themselves are forming an image, not just conveying meaning. I hadn't considered the pressure of the inscription before! Curator: Precisely! Observe also the negative space surrounding the text; it functions as an active element, creating a sense of airiness. Editor: I'll definitely pay more attention to the materiality and the use of space in future works.