Figure Studies; verso: Figure Studies after Sculpture (?) 1871 - 1872

Editor: This graphite sketch is titled "Figure Studies; verso: Figure Studies after Sculpture (?)" by John Singer Sargent. I find the composition quite intriguing with its multiple figures scattered across the page. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I am drawn to the artist's masterful use of line. Observe how the varying weights and densities of the graphite create a sense of depth and volume, despite the absence of color. Note how the artist captures movement, yet retains a sense of balanced form. Editor: I hadn't considered that, but it's true. The contrast almost creates a sense of the figures breathing. Curator: Precisely. The sketches are less about the subjects themselves, and more about the formal elements. The artist's exploration of form and line create the work's core structural interest. Editor: Thanks, I now appreciate the work more as an independent study of forms rather than just preparatory sketches.