Head Studies 1871 - 1872

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Head Studies," a small pencil sketch at the Harvard Art Museums. The quick, almost fleeting nature of these figures makes me wonder what Sargent was trying to capture. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a glimpse into the artistic process, really. Sargent, known for his society portraits, is here capturing something rawer. How did the societal expectations placed on portraiture at the time—accuracy, flattery, representation of status—impact his private exploration of form? Editor: So, the sketch is a rebellion of sorts? Curator: Perhaps a moment of freedom. It suggests a dialogue between public commission and private artistic investigation, revealing how social context shapes even preliminary studies. What do you think? Editor: I never considered the tension between the artist's 'job' and their personal expression. It’s fascinating to see it play out even in a sketch like this. Curator: Exactly! And that tension is something we can explore across much of art history.