Two Seated Figures Reading; verso: Three Portrait Sketches c. 1916 - 1919

Curator: John Singer Sargent's "Two Seated Figures Reading," a pencil sketch residing at the Harvard Art Museums, has this wonderfully airy, ephemeral quality. Editor: It feels like a fleeting memory, doesn't it? As though we're glimpsing a scene that's about to vanish into the mist of time. The figures are barely there, yet so present. Curator: The gesture of reading is such a powerful symbol. It speaks of knowledge, reflection, interiority. The book becomes a portal, a shared space between the figures and their thoughts. Editor: Absolutely! It's also interesting how Sargent leaves so much to the imagination. He uses so few lines to create such a palpable sense of quiet concentration. He does so much with so little. Curator: I'd agree. He gives us just enough information for our minds to wander and wonder. A beautiful example of suggestion over statement. Editor: In a way, Sargent invites us to become active participants, co-creators of the scene. It is such a dynamic sketch, even though its focus is the stillness of reading. It’s a powerful piece.