Studies for ‘Dancing Figures’ 1919 - 1920

John Singer Sargent made these Studies for ‘Dancing Figures’ with graphite, and, looking at it, I can feel the pleasure he took in mark-making. It’s all about the process, this one. The surface is bare, exposed; you can see all the decisions and changes made as he worked. The lines aren’t trying to trick you into seeing real bodies, they are just lines on paper. Look at the figure on the left, how the weight shifts on their back. You can see the shadow suggested by quick strokes, a kind of shorthand for the volume of the body. I love the way he leaves things unresolved; it’s like he's inviting us to finish the drawing ourselves. There’s something about it that reminds me of Rodin, the way he captures movement and energy with such simple means. Art's just a conversation, isn’t it? Always building on what came before.