Blank page; verso: Sketch of Madame Helleu 1889

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Blank page; verso: Sketch of Madame Helleu." It's an undated sketch, but it certainly captures a moment of quiet concentration. What stands out to you about it? Curator: I see the weight of societal expectation in this sketch. Sargent portrays Madame Helleu absorbed in her own world. What's she writing? A letter, perhaps? Or maybe a forbidden poem? The sketch feels like a glimpse into the interior life of a woman navigating social constraints. Editor: A forbidden poem! I hadn’t considered that possibility. It's amazing how much narrative you can find in a simple sketch. Curator: Indeed. Sargent captures the unspoken stories women carried. It makes one wonder about the cultural messages embedded in something as simple as a sketch. Editor: Absolutely. Thanks, that gives me a lot to consider about Sargent's gaze and Madame Helleu's inner world.