Studies of Quarry Workers (recto and verso) 1911

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's "Studies of Quarry Workers." Look closely at these preliminary sketches, likely made in preparation for a larger work. Editor: It feels fleeting, almost dreamlike. The stark lines against the blank paper create a sense of isolation, even in a group. Curator: The quarry, as a symbol, evokes ideas of labor, extraction, and the transformation of the landscape. Notice how the figures are both present and distant, part of the scene yet also somewhat obscured. Editor: Right, the composition uses strong diagonals, giving a sense of depth, but also of instability. The lines of the ropes almost pin the central figure. Curator: The choice of graphite lends a raw, immediate feel to the process. Sargent captures a moment in the lives of these workers. Editor: Ultimately, these studies reveal a visual system of how labor leaves traces on both people and place. Curator: Indeed. Sargent's swift sketches provide a glimpse into the human cost of industry.