Sketches of Standing Soldiers (recto and verso) 1918

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent’s “Sketches of Standing Soldiers,” a drawing housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s incredibly sparse, almost ghostly, yet captures a palpable weariness in these figures. You can almost feel the weight they carry. Curator: Indeed. Note the economy of line, yet how effectively Sargent delineates form and texture. The subtle gradations create depth, highlighting the somber mood. Editor: The composition, too—the figures positioned at various angles, some leaning, others standing—conveys a sense of disquiet. A very human moment, even with the helmets and rifles. Curator: Precisely. Through formal analysis, we can see how Sargent utilizes the medium to evoke the emotional landscape of war, even without a specific date. Editor: A fleeting vision, caught with masterful brevity. It speaks volumes about the artist's skill, wouldn't you agree?