Washerwomen; verso: Figure Studies 1872

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Washerwomen," it's a pencil sketch. The composition is so sparse, it’s almost haunting. What do you see in the lines and forms of this study? Curator: The immediacy of Sargent's mark-making is compelling. Note how the economy of line suggests volume and movement. The verso also presents, inviting a semiotic reading of absent forms. How do these relate to the primary subject? Editor: I hadn't considered the relationship between both sides of the artwork. Maybe the artist was just playing with forms. Curator: Perhaps, but the juxtaposition invites speculation. Consider the interplay between presence and absence as a formal device. What does that suggest to you? Editor: I see how the interplay of lines and forms creates a dialogue. Thank you. Curator: Indeed, a potent lesson in visual language.