Blank page; verso: Profile of Column Base c. 1910

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Blank page; verso: Profile of Column Base." It seems like a simple sketch in pencil on paper, but the column base at the bottom is rendered in what looks like brown wash. What catches your eye in terms of the materials used, especially contrasting the sketch with the base? Curator: The rapid sketch reveals Sargent's process – the quick, efficient marks demonstrating the division of labor between conceptualization and execution. The brown wash, though seemingly simple, points to a deliberate engagement with materiality. Is this a cost-effective approach to study form or a personal preference that merges practicality with a desired aesthetic? Editor: I hadn't considered the economic aspects, or the speed of production. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: Considering the materiality in relation to the artist's broader practice, what does this suggest about the relationship between architectural study and his well-known portraiture? Editor: I’m beginning to see how even a simple sketch can offer insight into the artist's methodology.