Study of a Wolf's head; verso: Partial Studies of Oxen 19th-20th century

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's sketch "Study of a Wolf's Head," and also contains studies of oxen on the back. It feels so immediate, almost like a fleeting thought captured on paper. What do you make of Sargent's choice of subject here? Curator: Consider the late 19th century context. The wolf, often demonized, becomes a subject of study. Sargent's detached observation could be a subversive act, challenging societal biases by presenting the animal with objective curiosity. What does that suggest to you about power dynamics? Editor: It’s almost as if he’s trying to deconstruct the established narrative around the wolf. Curator: Precisely! And by including studies of oxen, he juxtaposes the wild with the domesticated, prompting us to question the very nature of these categories and our relationship to the animal world. Editor: That’s a powerful insight. I never would have seen that on my own!