Sketches of an Ox in a Harness (recto and verso) 1910

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's sketch, "Sketches of an Ox in a Harness." It's a delicate piece, just pencil on paper, with a wonderful sense of movement. What do you see in this fleeting image? Curator: I see Sargent, ever the observer, capturing the weight and weariness of labor with such simple lines. It's less about anatomical precision and more about conveying the ox’s spirit, its inherent nobility, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely, it feels almost sympathetic. I hadn’t considered the nobility in it before, but that makes sense. Curator: Precisely! And isn’t it remarkable how much emotion he manages to evoke with so little? It makes you wonder about the relationship between artist and subject. Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. I’m going to think about Sargent's sketch in a whole new way now.