Sketch for Between Rounds 

This is Thomas Eakins' sketch for Between Rounds, and even in this nascent form, the stark contrasts and careful arrangement of figures are palpable. The composition divides the scene into zones of activity and rest. The seated boxer, rendered in almost ghostly white, becomes a focal point against the dark, undefined background, creating an interplay between vulnerability and raw physicality. A second man is tending to the boxer. He appears as a solid, dark mass. The man is cropped at the shoulder which lends a feeling of documentary realism. To the left, we have a man seated in a chair, a voyeuristic figure observing the scene. Eakins masterfully uses the interplay of light and shadow to create a space that is as psychological as it is physical. The lack of detail forces us to consider not just what is shown, but how it is shown. The broad brushstrokes and unfinished quality suggest the fleeting nature of the moment. In this sketch, Eakins captures a very still moment suspended between two rounds of intense physical activity.