Sketchbook: Mural and Figure Studies c. 1916 - 1919

Editor: Here we have a page from John Singer Sargent's Sketchbook: Mural and Figure Studies. It appears to be graphite or ink on paper, and what strikes me most is the handwriting. It looks like a packing list, maybe? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, absolutely! It’s like glimpsing into Sargent’s artistic travel diary. For me, it’s less about the finished masterpiece and more about the creative process, the artist’s wandering mind jotting down train schedules from Reims to Amiens and London as he gathered inspiration for his grand murals. Doesn’t it feel wonderfully intimate? Editor: It does. So, these weren't just random scribbles, but related to his larger works? Curator: Precisely! It's like finding the breadcrumbs that led to the whole magnificent cake. The seemingly mundane details hold the key to understanding the artist's journey, don’t you think? Editor: I never thought about it that way. Now I see it as part of the art itself, not just some auxiliary note. Curator: Exactly! It blurs the line, doesn’t it? Makes you wonder what other hidden gems lie within artists’ everyday notes.