Landscape 1870

Curator: This is "Landscape," a pencil on paper sketch by John Singer Sargent, created in 1874 and held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels ephemeral, almost like a fleeting thought captured on paper. The composition is sparse, very economical. Curator: Sargent was only 18 when he made this. Consider the conventions of landscape art at the time and his privilege as a young, cosmopolitan artist exploring the genre. Editor: The hatching and cross-hatching create areas of depth and shadow, but the lack of defined forms gives it a dreamlike quality. It's about the suggestion of a landscape, not a literal depiction. Curator: Perhaps it speaks to the experience of youth, a time of rapid growth and indistinct identities, mirrored in the landscape. His access afforded him the ability to express this sentiment. Editor: The interplay between the delicate lines and shaded areas creates a visual rhythm, guiding the eye through the composition. Curator: Viewing this sketch through a lens of class and access allows us to consider the narratives of those excluded from such artistic pursuits. Editor: It's a compelling study in line and form, a glimpse into the artist's process.