Study for "Synagogue," Boston Public Library; verso: Study of Archers, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston c. 1916 - 1919

Editor: So, here we have John Singer Sargent's study for "Synagogue," intended for the Boston Public Library. It's a pretty large drawing, all done in pencil. It feels very mournful to me, and the figure appears to be blindfolded. What's your take on it? Curator: Mournful is a great word. Seeing this, I feel that Sargent really captures a sense of sorrow and the weight of history. The blindfold, of course, is symbolic, suggesting a lack of insight or perhaps a refusal to see. Do you notice how the grid underneath disrupts the image, yet also structures it? Editor: It's like the past is both fading and ever-present, literally built into the foundation. I see it now! Thanks! Curator: Exactly. It is as if Sargent is letting us peek behind the curtain, showing us the making and meaning all at once. What a treat!