Blank page; verso: Study of Two Figures 1871

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Study of Two Figures," a pencil sketch. It feels immediate and raw. What can we learn from the process behind this seemingly simple piece? Curator: The immediacy you sense speaks to Sargent's engagement with materials. Consider the quick, repetitive strokes. What kind of pencil did he use? How does the paper's texture affect the lines? Editor: That's a great point! I hadn't considered the material properties so closely. Curator: These choices reveal how Sargent saw drawing as more than just preliminary. It was a crucial part of his artistic labor. Editor: So, the sketch itself becomes a record of his working process, not just a means to an end. That’s fascinating. Thanks! Curator: Precisely! It challenges our conventional understanding of artistic production.