Lady Margaret Spicer; verso: Sketch for Crucifix c. 1900

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's sketch of "Lady Margaret Spicer." The lines feel very fluid and elegant. What do you see in this portrait? Curator: I see Sargent grappling with representation, particularly within the context of class and gender. Consider the deliberate ambiguity, the unfinished quality. Is this a portrait of a woman, or a study of societal expectations placed upon women? Editor: That's interesting. It feels like he's capturing a performance of femininity rather than the person. Curator: Exactly! Sargent, whether consciously or not, critiques the very act of portraiture, and by extension, the power dynamics inherent in looking. This challenges us to examine our own gaze. Editor: I never thought about it that way, but it makes me see it differently. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's a good reminder that art can be a mirror reflecting back our own assumptions.