Fountain, with Girl Sketching c. 1913

Curator: John Singer Sargent’s watercolor, "Fountain, with Girl Sketching," now held at the Tate, presents a fleeting moment of leisure. Editor: It feels sun-drenched, almost dreamlike. The soft washes give it a sense of airy lightness. Curator: Absolutely. Sargent's quick brushstrokes here reveal a fascination with capturing light and form. One notes how the balustrade's design is echoed in the reflected shadows below. Editor: I imagine the girl sketching is also trying to capture a fleeting moment, much like Sargent himself. It’s art reflecting art. Curator: Indeed, it emphasizes the labor involved in representing landscape and questions of artistic practice. Sargent often blurred boundaries between studio work and en plein air sketching, elevating watercolor as a serious medium. Editor: It makes me want to sit right there with them, sketching in the sun. A beautiful glimpse into a world dedicated to the process of making. Curator: A valuable record of a time and place and the artist's method. Editor: A simple, yet evocative moment captured beautifully.