Sketchbook: Architectural Sketches c. 1885

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's "Sketchbook: Architectural Sketches," held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The cover immediately strikes me—that marbled pattern feels unexpectedly dynamic, like peering into a microscopic world. Curator: Indeed, the cover itself hints at layers of meaning. Marbling, often associated with refinement, here encases architectural sketches—suggesting foundations, literally and figuratively. What do you make of the book's texture? Editor: There's a clear contrast. The bookbinding is quite sturdy, but the edge of the cover seems worn; a hint of fragility that reminds us of its age and use. Curator: Precisely. A sketchbook like this acted as a repository of ideas, informing not just Sargent’s architectural interests but potentially his portraiture too—observational skills honed here translated onto canvas. Editor: Knowing that Sargent used this, I see a connection to his virtuoso brushstrokes, that same fluidity even in preparatory work. This object encapsulates his artistic process. Curator: Seeing this sketchbook reminds me of art’s grounding in observation. Editor: And I'm struck by how even the most utilitarian objects can be deeply evocative.