Study for Trumpeter Heralding Victory; Two Studies of Feet, for "Death and Victory," Widener Library, Harvard University 1921 - 1922

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent’s "Study for Trumpeter Heralding Victory; Two Studies of Feet, for Death and Victory," a preparatory work for a mural. Editor: There’s a raw, almost brutal energy to this sketch; the figure’s contorted pose and the sharp lines convey a sense of struggle. Curator: Considering this was a study, Sargent’s process shines through. The visible layering and reworking of lines reveal the artist grappling with form and composition. The materiality of the paper and charcoal becomes quite important here. Editor: And that trumpet seems to pierce the silence, a symbol of triumph emerging from chaos. Notice the tension in the figure, caught between effort and proclamation; the imagery feels very calculated. Curator: Absolutely, but understanding the labor involved in creating these large-scale murals, the physical demands, reshapes our perception of the heroic narrative it aims to portray. Editor: Looking at the feet, too, evokes a journey, a foundation for the victory being heralded. Sargent is definitely working with symbolic weight here. Curator: Examining Sargent’s studio practices contextualizes the grand narratives he often depicted. Editor: Ultimately, it’s a compelling exploration of triumph through potent visual metaphors.