Portrait Sketch of Andrew Carrick Gow, R. A. (1848 - 1920) Possibly 1913

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's sketch of Andrew Carrick Gow, dating probably to around 1913. It's a quick study in ink, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a sense of quiet contemplation about him, isn't there? The lines, though spare, capture a weariness, a sort of gentle introspection. Curator: Indeed. Sargent's economy of line is remarkable. Notice how a few strokes define the planes of Gow’s face, suggesting form and volume with minimal effort. It’s semiotic shorthand. Editor: It feels almost unfinished, like a fleeting thought caught on paper. Maybe that's why it feels so intimate. Curator: Precisely. It's a peek behind the curtain of formal portraiture, a glimpse of the sitter in a more vulnerable, unguarded moment. Editor: It leaves me wondering about their friendship and their creative dialogue. Curator: It's always intriguing to consider the personal relationships behind such works, isn't it? Editor: Yes! And I think the real magic lies in how Sargent captured a world of emotion with just a few strokes.