Blank page; verso: Architectural Diagram with Measurements c. 1910

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Blank page; verso: Architectural Diagram with Measurements" housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small work on paper, measuring about 5 by 7 inches. Editor: It feels so intimate, almost like a stolen glimpse into the artist's private thoughts. The quick, light lines give it a sense of immediacy. Curator: Indeed. It’s fascinating to see Sargent, known for his portraits, engaging with architectural planning. The verso suggests this was a casual, perhaps functional, drawing. Editor: It makes me wonder about the building. A house? A studio? What materials were envisioned, what was the budget? I can imagine Sargent sketching this while on a grand tour. Curator: The scale and materials of paper further inform its purpose—a preliminary sketch, not the finished product. One can imagine the cost of materials. Editor: It's a beautiful reminder that even masters like Sargent began with simple lines and calculations. Curator: Precisely. And by analyzing these lines, we gain insight into the larger structures, both literal and metaphorical. Editor: Agreed. It brings a new depth to his other works, knowing he considered such practicalities.