Sketches of Standing Soldiers 1918

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Sketches of Standing Soldiers," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a pencil drawing, and what strikes me is the somewhat detached portrayal of these figures. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, Sargent made these sketches during World War I. Consider the socio-political context: governments used art to mobilize support. But here, instead of glorifying war, Sargent presents a more neutral, observational stance. Do you think this neutrality challenges the typical war imagery of the time? Editor: It does, it feels more like documentation than propaganda. I hadn't considered that. Curator: Right. The sketches show soldiers, but without the usual heroic fanfare, perhaps reflecting a changing public sentiment about war. The Harvard Art Museums' acquisition and display of such works contribute to shaping how we remember and understand that history. Editor: That makes me look at it differently. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure.