Sketch of Sir David Murray (1849 - 1933) 29 - 1906

Curator: What a curious drawing this is. John Singer Sargent sketched this portrait of Sir David Murray using ink on paper. Editor: It has a rather sinister feel to it, doesn't it? The dark, heavy ink gives the impression of a mask or a distorted reflection. Curator: Indeed. The composition is strikingly sparse, almost skeletal in its rendering of Murray's features. The bold lines create a powerful graphic quality. Editor: It’s interesting to consider this was made in 1906. Sargent, known for his society portraits, reducing someone to this abstract form disrupts the notions of class and representation he usually upheld. What does it mean to almost erase the individual like this? Curator: Perhaps an exploration into the essence of form, stripping away superfluous detail to reveal a fundamental structure. Editor: Or maybe a critique of the very notion of portraiture and the power dynamics inherent within it. It certainly gives us a lot to think about. Curator: It does offer a lot more than just a likeness. Editor: Exactly.