Sketches of Cows 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Sketches of Cows," a small pencil drawing. I’m struck by how economical the lines are, almost shorthand. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Consider the social function of sketching at the time. Sargent, from a privileged background, could pursue art-making as part of an upper-class lifestyle. These aren't studies for a finished work but records of leisure. How does the very act of sketching become a form of consumption? Editor: So, the material—the paper and pencil—and the act of drawing itself were tied to Sargent's social standing? Curator: Precisely. And think about the subject matter, too. Cows, rural scenes – these were subjects increasingly romanticized as industrialization progressed, which in turn, highlights the relationship between artistic production and broader economic shifts. Editor: That's an interesting way to consider it. I wouldn't have thought about it that way at first. Curator: It makes you think about the labor, access and consumption, doesn't it?