Studies for "Three Dancing Figures," Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1917 - 1919

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's pencil sketch, "Studies for 'Three Dancing Figures.'" The figures are so gracefully rendered. What do you make of Sargent's choice to depict these dancers in this medium? Curator: Well, consider the social circles Sargent moved in. His patrons often desired a glimpse into the world of dance, but the elite viewed it with a mix of fascination and suspicion. Editor: Suspicion? Why? Curator: The stage was a place of performance, of constructed identity. Sargent, by using a preliminary sketch, offers a peek behind the curtain, making it more acceptable for his audience. Editor: That's fascinating. So, the medium itself becomes a form of social commentary! Curator: Precisely. It reframes the dancers not as spectacles, but as subjects of artistic study, legitimizing the viewer's gaze. Editor: I never thought about it that way, it really opens up a new perspective. Curator: Indeed. Art is always intertwined with the society that produces it.