Study of Clasped Hands, for "Heaven," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Study of Clasped Hands, for 'Heaven,' Boston Public Library." The multiple arms, rendered in charcoal, feel so fluid, almost like they're dancing on the page. What feelings or interpretations come to mind when you view this piece? Curator: They do have a certain grace, don't they? For me, they evoke connection, reliance. Sargent was studying the human form to depict celestial beings. Imagine the strength and vulnerability in a single grasp. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, what those hands are meant to represent in the final mural? Editor: Absolutely, I never considered the contrast between strength and vulnerability in their connection. Thanks! Curator: A pleasure! Art is like a mirror, reflecting different facets back at each viewer.