Woman with Two Infants; verso: Sketch of a Cow 1872

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's sketch, "Woman with Two Infants." I’m struck by the contrast between the defined lines in the close-up sketch and the airy strokes of the full-body one. What do you see in the composition of this sketch? Curator: Observe how Sargent uses line weight to create depth. The heavier lines around the mother's face and the infant on the left draw our eye. Do you notice how the sketch on the right, with its lighter touch, recedes visually? Editor: Yes, the contrast is really effective! I hadn't considered how line weight could manipulate depth like that. Curator: Indeed, Sargent masterfully employs this contrast to imbue the work with a sense of both immediacy and distance. It's a testament to his skill in formal composition.