Study of Adam for the ‘Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary’ 1903 - 1916

This is a study of Adam for the ‘Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary’ by John Singer Sargent, and right away I notice his confidence, evident in the economy of his marks. Sargent's drawing is all about the process. You can see the charcoal at work, hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone and form. The texture of the paper plays its part, too, grabbing onto the charcoal to create a gritty surface. Look at the way he suggests the drapery, those quick, looping lines that imply volume and shadow with incredible efficiency. It’s like he’s thinking aloud with his charcoal, each line a step in his exploration of the figure. Sargent reminds me a bit of Degas, actually, in his ability to capture movement and form with such immediacy. But where Degas is all about capturing fleeting moments, Sargent seems more interested in the sheer pleasure of looking. It's a study, yes, but also a celebration of the act of seeing.