Sketch of Balustrade and Column Base with Color Notations, Reform Club, London 19th-20th century

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent’s “Sketch of Balustrade and Column Base with Color Notations, Reform Club, London.” It’s a quick pencil sketch with notes scribbled all over it. The architecture feels very…establishment. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a reflection of the artist's gaze upon power structures. Sargent was often commissioned by the elite. This sketch, though seemingly innocuous, reveals the architecture that reinforced social hierarchies. Editor: So, even a simple sketch can be seen as a political statement? Curator: Precisely. Architecture serves as a backdrop for societal interactions. Sargent's focus on the Reform Club, a space for influential figures, underscores the power dynamics inherent in the built environment. Editor: I never thought of it that way. Curator: Considering art as a mirror reflecting social structures enriches our understanding. Editor: Definitely gives me a lot to consider. Thanks!