Blank page; verso: Study for "Mrs. Cazalet and her Children" c. 1901

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Blank page; verso: Study for 'Mrs. Cazalet and her Children.'" It's a graphite drawing, and what strikes me is how informal and intimate it feels. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: Sargent's society portraits often walked a line between depicting genuine connection and reinforcing social hierarchies. Consider the politics of representation at play; what does it mean to capture a "domestic" scene of the wealthy Cazalet family? Editor: So, it's not just a study of a family, but a statement about their position? Curator: Precisely. Sargent was very aware of the power dynamics inherent in portraiture. This sketch is a window into how these images functioned in constructing and maintaining social standing. What did you take away from this? Editor: I see how even an informal sketch can be loaded with social meaning. Curator: Exactly, portraiture is never neutral.