Deer 1872

John Singer Sargent crafted this drawing titled 'Deer' using graphite on paper. Initially, the eye is drawn to the stark contrast between the pale paper and the concentrated graphite strokes that define the deer. The composition subtly unsettles; the deer is splayed diagonally across the picture plane, its form elongated and seemingly unsupported. Sargent captures a sense of vulnerability, destabilizing the deer's natural grace. The anatomical detail is striking, yet the rendering feels incomplete, with areas left bare, creating a tension between presence and absence. The stark lighting enhances the animal’s form, and invites questions about the relationship between representation and reality. This work does not offer a straightforward depiction but engages in a dialogue about the act of seeing and portraying the natural world.