Studies for ‘Heaven’ and ‘Hell’ 1903 - 1916

John Singer Sargent’s "Studies for ‘Heaven’ and ‘Hell’" is a collection of charcoal sketches that capture the raw energy of the human form. Created between 1903 and 1916, these studies, likely preparatory sketches for a larger work, demonstrate Sargent's masterful use of line and shadow to convey both anatomical detail and the emotional intensity of the figures. The gestural quality of the lines suggests a dynamic composition, hinting at a possible struggle between the figures, perhaps alluding to the contrasting themes of "Heaven" and "Hell."