In Switzerland 1908

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent’s watercolor, "In Switzerland", created around 1908. Editor: My immediate reaction is one of languid rest; the pose is so wonderfully carefree. It suggests a momentary escape from some task or responsibility. Curator: Yes, Sargent's use of watercolor contributes to that very feeling. The fluidity of the medium, its dependence on the absorbency of the paper support, lends itself well to conveying an intimate, genre scene. It's interesting to see Sargent use what he had available on location—portable and conducive to capturing a fleeting moment. Editor: Beyond the medium, there's a very specific symbolism that strikes me here, with the disheveled clothing. The abandoned shoes. These objects signal a surrender to leisure, the conscious rejection of obligations. What story do you think Sargent is trying to tell? Curator: I see it as a meditation on leisure and class, and in Sargent’s particular situation, freedom as a traveling artist. Someone in a position to stop time when they see fit and make a painting of that stolen time, while perhaps traveling in luxury or comfort. We also might ask whose labour enabled this artist to depict these leisure activities. Editor: Indeed. And how fascinating it is that these painted surfaces depicting a traveler and the signifiers of ease transcend specific locations. You could interpret this image to indicate travel and remove oneself from all familiar things. This traveler may have gone on many spiritual travels that have aided in his art practice. The imagery of rest might imply one can recover spiritually from life struggles by disconnecting and seeking help outside of the familiar. Curator: Right, and this ease of watercolor allows him to travel to any region of his choosing with limited studio necessities. Sargent’s choices demonstrate the ease of capturing specific imagery within a location such as Switzerland in the early 1900s. It all feels deliberately uncomplicated to focus more on a location rather than being hindered by extensive material needs. Editor: Thinking of this now, those shoes represent a life journey! I’m intrigued that a simple painting may have many levels and provide new understandings the more one explores. Curator: Exactly! Paying attention to materials helps unlock our interpretation.