Forest Landscape; Rocks by the Water 1871

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's pencil drawing, titled "Forest Landscape; Rocks by the Water," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by its quietness. The stark simplicity of the pencil on paper creates a sense of serenity. Curator: Sargent often employed landscape sketches to capture a sense of place and mood. The cluster of trees above the scene feels symbolic, almost floating. Editor: It's interesting how the materiality—the very graphite used—lends a feeling of ephemerality to something as solid as rocks and trees. This work feels like a fleeting impression, barely there. It raises questions about the labor of sketching as preliminary work. Curator: Yes, perhaps suggesting the transient nature of perception itself. And the rocks, they could be interpreted as enduring symbols of time and the steadfastness of nature. Editor: It makes me wonder what Sargent intended to do with this sketch, if he considered it a finished work. Did he use it to inform his paintings? Curator: It certainly gives us insight into his process and how he perceived the landscape. Editor: Exactly! This raw image is more than meets the eye. It is an insight into the artist's labor. Curator: A glimpse into the symbolic resonance even in the most humble of materials.