Study for "The Winds", Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1921 - 1925

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's "Study for 'The Winds,'" part of his decorative program for the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Editor: My first thought is, what a flurry! The composition seems to capture raw energy and movement. What materials did he use to achieve this sense of dynamism? Curator: It’s pigment on canvas, measuring over six feet wide. Sargent was exploring classical allegories, particularly the concept of wind as a powerful force. The figures are, notably, all quite Western and idealized. Editor: It’s interesting how the figures interact with the implied force. What about the impact of labor? Was this a work commissioned for a specific context? Curator: Yes, as a study for a grander museum scheme. Considering Sargent's socio-economic background, we can ask, who gets to create these ‘universal’ symbols and whose stories are left unheard? Editor: A vital perspective. Seeing the art in this context, I think, lets us question the stories about power and representation, and reflect on the legacy that's made.