Two Women, after Veronese 1871

Editor: This drawing, "Two Women, after Veronese," by John Singer Sargent, is a quick sketch in graphite. It feels very immediate and dynamic. What do you make of the composition? Curator: The dynamism arises from the rapid, assured lines. Note how Sargent uses hatching to define form and volume, particularly in the drapery. It's a study in contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. The negative space is as important as the figures themselves. Editor: I see that now! It's all about the relationship of the marks to each other on the page. Curator: Precisely. The visible process enhances the artwork. We appreciate not only the subject, but also the artist’s hand and method of construction. Editor: That makes me look at sketches in a whole new way. Thanks!