Landscape; verso: Figure Studies including a Mounted Amazon 1872

Editor: This drawing, "Landscape; verso: Figure Studies including a Mounted Amazon," by John Singer Sargent captures a park scene. The stark contrast between light and shadow creates an almost theatrical mood. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The drawing offers a glimpse into the leisure and privilege enjoyed by certain segments of society during Sargent’s time. The manicured landscape serves as a backdrop, reflecting the power structures inherent in land ownership and social class. How does the presence of the classical structure further inform your reading? Editor: I guess it reinforces the idea of wealth and historical legacy, something enduring. Curator: Precisely. Sargent’s choice to depict this scene raises questions about who has access to such spaces and whose stories are being told. It invites us to consider the silences and erasures within this seemingly idyllic landscape. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Every landscape is a stage, and Sargent shows us one where the scenery holds more power than we realize.