Studies of Aphrodite for "Aphrodite and Eros" 1919 - 1920

This is a graphite sketch on paper, made by John Singer Sargent as a study for his painting "Aphrodite and Eros." What strikes me is the immediacy of the marks. It's all about capturing the pose, the way the light hits the figure. You can almost see him circling around her, trying to nail down the perfect line. There's a looseness, an energy that comes from the process of searching. The texture of the paper peeks through the graphite, adding another layer of interest. And look at the way he's used hatching to build up the shadows, it gives the form weight and volume. He wasn't afraid to leave things unfinished, to let the process show, which reminds me of Degas' drawings. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art is not just about the end result, but the journey of making.