Sketchbook ("1871-72"): Alpine Travel Sketches and Figure Studies 1871 - 1872

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent’s Sketchbook ("1871-72"): Alpine Travel Sketches and Figure Studies, a small album dating from his teenage years. Editor: It looks worn, almost like a well-loved artifact. The word "ALBUM" emblazoned on the cover hints at preservation and memory. Curator: Absolutely. Considering Sargent’s later society portraits, it's fascinating to see the humble beginnings, the very material record of his developing skill through sketches done in the Alps. Editor: The alpine setting, I imagine, would have instilled a sense of grandness. Perhaps the figures inside reflect the power and sublimity of nature? Curator: Possibly. But also consider the labor involved in producing and carrying such a sketchbook; it makes you think of the privilege underlying this artistic journey. Editor: It’s a potent reminder that even seemingly simple objects can be layered with personal and cultural significance. Curator: Precisely. The very essence of art is its ability to act as a repository of so many levels of interpretation.