Ragusa (from Sketchbook) 1904

Mary Newbold Sargent made this sketch of Ragusa with graphite on paper, and it’s like peeking into her visual diary. The sketchy lines, they're not trying to be perfect, you know? More like capturing a vibe, a sense of place. I love how the pencil work creates a landscape with the heavy dark clusters of trees at the front, with the buildings looming behind them. It reminds me of my own process, the layering and building up of marks, each one a decision, a reaction to what’s already there. Look at the round tower on the left, those lines are so loose, almost like she’s feeling her way around the form. The roughness somehow makes the building feel more present, more real. It makes me think of other artists who traveled and sketched like John Singer Sargent who I believe was her nephew. But Mary's got her own thing going on, less polished, more raw. And that’s what makes it so engaging. It’s a reminder that art is a conversation, a way of seeing and sharing, and there’s always room for another voice.