Sketch of Sir Edward John Poynter (1836 - 1919) 27 - 1907

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's quick sketch of Sir Edward John Poynter. It's a small work, only about 8 by 5 inches, seemingly a fleeting impression captured with ink. Editor: It has an unfinished quality. I’m immediately struck by the starkness, the vulnerability of these rapidly drawn lines. Is this a portrait or a caricature? Curator: Sargent's image provides a glimpse into the Royal Academy's hierarchy. Poynter was, at one time, president there, an establishment figure. Editor: And Sargent, the society portraitist, sketching the establishment. Was he subtly critiquing the old guard? Or simply practicing? Curator: Perhaps both. The sketch shows an artist quickly capturing a likeness, but the choice to preserve it, perhaps implies a commentary. Editor: It reminds us that even quick sketches can carry social weight, reflecting the power dynamics of the art world. Curator: Indeed, and this work’s survival allows us to see the players within that world more clearly. Editor: I think, now, I understand the raw impact it had on me, viewing it in our current context.