Figure Study for Israel, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Figure Study for Israel, 'Israel and the Law,'" a charcoal drawing. The figure's pose, with the obscured face and clasped hands, feels so burdened. What strikes you about the composition? Curator: Notice how Sargent employs line and shadow to articulate form. The anatomical study of the figure, rendered in charcoal, is striking. How does the contrast in tonal values contribute to the overall effect? Editor: It definitely emphasizes the weight of the figure, but also makes the secondary arm recede. It's like a half-formed thought. I see what you mean about the values! Curator: Exactly. The incompleteness draws attention to the process of creation itself, and to Sargent's mastery of line. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered; I was so focused on the figure. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It is in the nuances of form that the artist’s intention is often revealed.