Study of Two Soldiers with Rifles, Left Arms Extended, for "Coming of the Americans," Widener Library, Harvard University 1921 - 1922

Curator: Here we see John Singer Sargent's "Study of Two Soldiers with Rifles," a preliminary sketch for his mural at Harvard's Widener Library. It captures two American soldiers, their rifles held at the ready. Editor: The monochromatic sketch immediately conveys a sense of solemnity. The composition, primarily lines and form, highlights the weight of duty. Curator: Indeed. These soldiers, symbols of American intervention during the First World War, echo classical ideals of civic virtue and sacrifice, but also a cultural shift. Editor: I notice the repetition of the soldiers and their stances, which lends a rhythm to the composition while underscoring the anonymity of the figures. Their gaze is directed off the page, suggesting a future and unseen conflict. Curator: The extended arms resonate. The gesture of reaching, striving, or even pushing back—a potent symbol of America's role on the world stage. Editor: A deceptively simple sketch; Sargent masterfully uses line and form to evoke a complex emotional and historical landscape. Curator: Precisely. Sargent invites us to reflect on America’s evolving identity.