Mrs. Harold C. Wilson c. 1897

Editor: This sketch by John Singer Sargent, "Mrs. Harold C. Wilson", is at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a preliminary study, almost ephemeral, but it’s also very confident. What can you tell me about how this work functions within the broader context of portraiture at that time? Curator: Well, Sargent was a master of societal portraiture. However, this sketch provides a glimpse behind the curtain. It's less about representing social status, and more about capturing a fleeting impression. How do you think the unfinished nature of this work impacts its public perception compared to his formal portraits? Editor: I guess it humanizes both the artist and the sitter, stripping away some of the performance. I appreciate its rawness. Curator: Exactly! Consider how museums historically favored polished works. Showing sketches like this challenges those power structures, inviting viewers into the artistic process and democratizing access. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I never thought about the politics inherent in displaying unfinished works. Curator: It alters the narrative, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely. This changed how I view not only this piece but the entire collection.