Studies of Turkeys 19th-20th century

Curator: There’s something elemental about these turkey studies, rendered in graphite by John Singer Sargent. They feel so immediate, like sketches from life. Editor: Yes, the frenetic energy is palpable! The turkeys almost seem to vibrate off the page. Beyond the technique, the turkey itself as a symbol feels ripe for interpretation. Curator: Indeed, the turkey carries potent cultural weight. Its prominence in Thanksgiving imagery links it to themes of abundance, gratitude, and the complex history of colonization in North America. It's almost a visual shorthand for American identity. Editor: Absolutely. And Sargent, being an American expatriate, perhaps found a certain irony in sketching these creatures. I wonder if he considered the turkey's role in burgeoning industrial food production at the time? Curator: An interesting point. One can’t help but see the turkey's transformation from wild bird to mass-produced commodity. It certainly makes you think about the layers of meaning imbued in this simple study. Editor: It does. Sargent's quick sketches are more profound than they initially appear.