Study for "David in the Wilderness" c. 1895 - 1900

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Study for 'David in the Wilderness'," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? Melancholy. A contemplative solitude washes over me just looking at the charcoal strokes. Curator: Given that this is a study, consider Sargent's process. The texture and layering of the charcoal hint at the labor invested in developing the composition for the final painting. Editor: You know, the drapery almost overwhelms David. Makes me wonder if Sargent was more interested in the folds of fabric than the figure's spiritual journey. Curator: Or perhaps the material world, the tangible fabric, grounds David in his moment of crisis, underscoring the physical reality of his spiritual struggle. Editor: Hmm, maybe so. It certainly adds a weight, a gravity to the scene. Makes you think about all the heavy choices we carry. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about Sargent's work here really shifts my thinking about the labor, literally and figuratively, that's poured into creating art. Editor: Well, it’s a beautiful exploration of doubt and form. I'm off to wrestle with my own wilderness now.