Leaving Constantinople (from Sketchbook) 1904

Mary Newbold Sargent sketched "Leaving Constantinople" in October 1904. Imagine her on the go, charcoal in hand, trying to capture the essence of a fleeting moment! I love how she's used these wispy lines that suggest the city fading into the distance, and there's a sense of movement, of being carried away from this iconic place. The domes and minarets of Constantinople are dissolving into the atmosphere, almost like a memory. And that little boat—simple but so evocative! I can almost feel the gentle sway of the water. This drawing reminds me of Whistler's etchings, where he also tried to capture the atmosphere of a place with a minimal line. It's all about suggestion, about leaving space for the viewer to fill in the blanks. It’s like Sargent is saying: “Here’s a starting point, now let your imagination take over.”