Molding Profiles (recto and verso) c. 1895 - 1916

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent’s "Molding Profiles," a pencil sketch. It feels like a blueprint, a study of shapes almost like abstracted clouds. What do you see in this piece, something so different from his portraits? Curator: Precisely. These aren't just shapes; they are cultural echoes. Consider the architectural molding - it speaks of classical ideals, of permanence. Sargent, though known for capturing fleeting likenesses, returns us to enduring forms. What emotional weight do these shapes hold, do you think? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. It does lend the sketch a certain gravitas, like he’s exploring something deeper than just form. Curator: Exactly. Symbols persist, imbued with meaning across time. Sargent hints at this continuity, reminding us that even in sketches, the past shapes the present. Fascinating, isn’t it? Editor: Definitely makes me see it in a new light, thanks.