Study for "Astronomy" c. 1921

This is a study for "Astronomy" by John Singer Sargent, drawn with graphite on paper. The piece captures a figure gazing upwards, knees drawn in. Look at the layered marks that build the form of the figure. See how the pressure of the graphite creates a density of tone, giving weight and volume to the body. This layering, this process, it’s not just about depiction. It's about touch, about feeling the form emerge through the act of drawing. Notice the economy of line here. The drapery is suggested with the barest of strokes, yet it conveys a sense of weight and texture. It reminds me of Manet's ability to imply form with minimal means, a kind of visual shorthand that invites the viewer to complete the image in their own mind. It's an invitation into a space of possibility, where meaning is not fixed but fluid.