Sketch of a Ship 1889

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Sketch of a Ship," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small pencil drawing, almost dreamlike with its hazy lines. I'm curious, what historical context might shed light on this sketch? Curator: Sargent often sketched scenes of leisure and travel. Consider the rise of transatlantic travel in his time, the opulence of these ships, and who had access to them. Does the sketch capture the grandeur or perhaps something more fleeting? Editor: I see, the sketch then becomes a document of its time, not just an image of a ship but a glimpse into a specific social world. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. And sketching, as an act, reinforces that privileged position of observer. Food for thought, isn't it?