Two Middle Eastern Figures c. 1890 - 1891

Curator: Sargent’s sketch, "Two Middle Eastern Figures," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, presents an intriguing study in charcoal. The dimensions are approximately 20 by 26 centimeters. What strikes you first about this piece? Editor: The stark contrast between the charcoal lines and the paper creates an almost haunting effect. The figures are present but also feel ephemeral, like ghosts. Curator: Indeed. Sargent's Orientalist works, though celebrated for their technical skill, often reflected the power dynamics of Western perspectives on the Middle East. This sketch, in its incompleteness, allows us to consider the artist's gaze and the potential for exoticization. Editor: The lines themselves are incredibly economical, almost gestural. He captures the essence of form with minimal strokes, focusing on the play of light and shadow to define the figures' presence. Curator: Absolutely, and considering its time, we must also look at it from a post-colonial lens, understanding the complex relationship between representation and identity, questioning how Sargent, as a Western artist, interpreted and portrayed Middle Eastern subjects. Editor: Yes, this sketch provides us with a chance to reflect on the act of seeing and being seen.