Landscape; verso: Calf; Barrels and Hen House; Girl Feeding Chickens 1872

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent’s "Landscape," a pencil drawing on paper, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's just so... effortless, isn’t it? The way he captures the weight of those trees on the crest of the hill with so few strokes! Curator: Sargent's landscapes, particularly his drawings, often served as studies for larger works. The verso shows sketches of farm animals and buildings. Editor: A window into his artistic process, really. I imagine him sitting there, sketchbook in hand, capturing the essence of a fleeting moment. You can almost feel the warmth of the sun. Curator: He was interested in depicting nature as he saw it, removed from historical or mythological narrative. It reflects the rising interest in naturalism during the late 19th century. Editor: For me, it's like a visual poem, a haiku in graphite. There's a quiet simplicity that speaks volumes. The unfinished quality adds to the charm. Curator: Indeed. It's a chance to see Sargent experimenting, thinking through line and form outside the pressures of the finished canvas. Editor: Exactly! I think that honesty resonates—it shows the raw talent, the unpolished genius. A real gem!