Flying Angel and Figures; verso: Architectural Detail and Molding Profiles c. 1895 - 1916

Editor: This sketch, "Flying Angel and Figures," is by John Singer Sargent. It looks like a preliminary drawing. The angel seems less benevolent and more like a force of nature. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, it's interesting that you say force of nature. It feels like Sargent is exploring the raw energy of the divine here, doesn't it? It’s as if he’s capturing a fleeting vision, mid-thought, rather than a formal depiction. Perhaps a meditation on faith and doubt, all in one breath. Editor: That's a beautiful way to look at it. I was stuck on the roughness of the sketch, but now I see it as intentional. Curator: It is a visual poem, really. And like any good poem, it asks more questions than it answers.