Sketches of Cows (recto and verso) 19th-20th century

Editor: So, here we have John Singer Sargent's "Sketches of Cows," just a little pencil work on paper, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels...quiet, almost meditative. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, Sargent's cows. They remind me of lazy summer afternoons, don't they? It's more than just cows, it's Sargent flexing his observational muscle. These sketches are all about capturing the essence of form with the barest of lines. Do you feel the weight of them, even in their simplicity? Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. There's a certain solidity despite the sketchiness. It’s like he's found the soul of the cow in a few strokes. I wouldn't expect a society portraitist to be this interested in farm animals! Curator: Exactly! It's that surprising intimacy. Maybe that's what's so charming about this piece. It's Sargent just...observing, unfiltered. Editor: That's so true. I'll never look at a Sargent painting the same way again. Curator: Wonderful! That's the power of a little sketch, isn't it?