Sketch of an Orangutan 19th-20th century

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's "Sketch of an Orangutan," held at the Harvard Art Museums. It measures about 10 by 17 centimeters. Editor: It's just lines, but it feels so…vulnerable. Almost human in its weariness. Curator: Right, Sargent's economic lines capture both the animal's form and, perhaps unintentionally, its subjugated position. Consider the social context: European fascination with the "exotic" fuelled colonial exploitation. Editor: Absolutely. It's impossible to ignore the power dynamics at play. The sketch becomes a document of a specific cultural gaze. Curator: And materially, it's a simple sketch, likely quickly made but now a commodity, an artwork on display for consumption. Editor: It makes you wonder about the ethics of display, doesn't it? What stories are we telling, and whose voices are amplified? Curator: Indeed. This seemingly simple sketch invites complicated reflections on art, labor, and the ongoing legacy of colonialism. Editor: Exactly. It is a quick sketch that holds deeper, more complex historical significance.