Blank page; verso: Sketch of Leaves c. 1895 - 1916

Curator: Sargent’s "Sketch of Leaves," housed here at Harvard Art Museums, presents a cluster of foliage in graphite. It has such a light, airy feel to it. Editor: Yes, there's a delicacy in the way he's captured the leaves. And yet, I wonder about the deliberate choice of graphite, a medium often associated with preliminary studies. Curator: Well, Sargent was very much a product of his time, a society that valued naturalism. Botanical studies like these were important artistic exercises. Editor: Of course, but beyond simple exercise, the very act of sketching becomes a comment on how we perceive nature through the lens of colonialism and class. Curator: Interesting perspective. The sharp contrast of light and shadow certainly adds depth, creating a sense of volume. Editor: It does invite us to contemplate these seemingly simple forms, to acknowledge the complex system they belong to, and by extension, our place within it. Curator: I see it as Sargent honing his skills, preparing for larger works. Editor: Perhaps. But it's also an opportunity to consider our own engagement with the natural world.