Study for Portrait of Mrs. Kate Moore; verso: Three Standing Women 1880 - 1885

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Study for Portrait of Mrs. Kate Moore," and what strikes me immediately is its ephemeral quality. It's just a hint of a portrait, really. What do you see in its delicate lines? Curator: It's like catching a fleeting thought, isn't it? Sargent's sketches are so revealing because they show us his process – the building blocks of a finished portrait. He's not just copying; he's feeling his way into her essence, that initial spark that he'll later amplify. Editor: So, it's not about capturing likeness, but something more? Curator: Exactly! It's about distilling a presence. The verso, with the three standing women, adds another layer – a sense of movement, of possibilities. He’s playing, searching. It makes me wonder about the conversations they might have had. Editor: I see that now. It's like a backstage pass to Sargent's mind. Curator: Precisely! And that's where the magic truly lies.