Sketches of Soldiers in an Open Boxcar; Studies for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Murals 1918

Editor: Here we see John Singer Sargent's sketch, "Sketches of Soldiers in an Open Boxcar." It feels raw and unfinished, a glimpse into the artist's process. What can you tell us about it? Curator: Well, considering Sargent's elite portraiture, this sketch directs our attention to the labor of war. The rapid lines and open boxcar frame the soldiers, not as heroes, but as cargo, part of the war machine’s material. How does this challenge notions of high art versus the everyday experiences of labor? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered! It reframes the piece entirely. Curator: Exactly! Examining the means of production, even in a sketch, reveals uncomfortable truths about societal structures. Editor: I see the war and art through a new lens now. Thank you!