Sketches of Figures 1871

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Sketches of Figures," held at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you first about this work? Editor: The immediacy. It feels spontaneous, like a fleeting moment captured with quick, decisive strokes of graphite. Curator: Indeed. Sargent's sketches offer a glimpse into his process, highlighting the labor involved in refining his vision. The figures hint at social types—a dapper figure in a top hat, a woman in profile—all rendered with the same economical hand. Editor: Note how the stark contrast between the dense hatching defining the animal form and the lighter lines of the human figures creates a dynamic visual hierarchy. Curator: Observing this piece sheds light on Sargent's remarkable ability to distill form, underscoring the materiality of his craft and the society he depicted. Editor: For me, it’s a study in pure form, line, and the power of suggestion.