Two Sketches of a Crucifix; verso: Ornament Study 1893 - 1903

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Two Sketches of a Crucifix," part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. The sheet captures two distinct crucifix designs. What strikes you first about this work? Editor: The immediate sense is one of vulnerability, almost fragility. The lines are so faint, so tentative. Curator: Indeed. Sargent's handling gives us insight into how religious iconography was being re-interpreted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Consider the evolving social role of the church. Editor: The recurring motif of the cross signifies death, sacrifice, and redemption, of course. But Sargent's draftsmanship also suggests a searching, an attempt to capture something profound. Curator: Precisely. Sargent seems to be exploring the visual vocabulary through which faith and suffering could be communicated in an increasingly secular world. Editor: A fascinating glimpse into a mind grappling with weighty symbols. Curator: I agree. It’s a study not just of form, but of meaning itself.