Architectural Sketch c. 1916 - 1919

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent’s "Architectural Sketch," a pencil drawing residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's strikingly minimal! Almost ghostly, with those faint lines suggesting form without fully committing. What do you make of its composition? Curator: It gives insight into the artistic process of Sargent, especially when we consider his larger body of work. It shows the early stages of planning and visualization of architectural spaces. Editor: I agree, those vertical lines, the suggestion of a facade...there’s a real sense of depth despite the simplicity. One can discern a sort of building that is hinted rather than displayed. Curator: Exactly, and considering Sargent’s elite social circles, these sketches may well reflect his engagement with urban planning and public aesthetics, or personal musing. Editor: Fascinating how such restraint invites us to complete the image ourselves. Curator: Indeed, the drawing makes us think about the layers of meaning, power, and patronage embedded in such seemingly straightforward work. Editor: A sketch that speaks volumes about seeing and creating!