Sketchbook page c. 1776

Curator: This is a sketchbook page by Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin, found in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a fleeting memory, these figures on horseback, captured with such quick, light lines. Curator: Absolutely. The composition is interesting; Saint-Aubin sketches three horses at different scales, each with a rider. Notice the confidence in his strokes. Editor: Yes, each line has purpose, suggesting form with incredible economy. There's a dynamic tension between the detail in the central figure and the sketchiness of the others. Curator: It speaks to Saint-Aubin's broader artistic practice, a commitment to capturing the vibrancy of Parisian life in the 18th century. Editor: You know, looking at this, I feel a sense of immediacy, as though I'm standing right there, watching him sketch. It makes me wonder what else was on his mind that day. Curator: Indeed, the beauty of this work lies in its raw, intimate quality. Editor: A small window into a world gone by.