Three Studies of Knees for the Law, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Three Studies of Knees for the Law," a preparatory study for his murals in the Boston Public Library. It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking how the simple charcoal sketches convey such a sense of weight and burden. The almost faceless knees seem to symbolize submission or perhaps resilience. Curator: Sargent often used isolated body parts to convey complex narratives. The knee, in this case, becomes a symbol of supplication, linked to his broader thematic explorations within the "Israel and the Law" mural. Editor: Yes, and thinking about "the law," the focus on these joints, these points of bending, it implies a system of societal pressure, forcing a bending, a yielding to power. Curator: That’s an interesting interpretation. It brings to mind the many historical and cultural connotations associated with kneeling, from religious devotion to acts of surrender. Editor: It also reminds us of the power dynamics inherent in visual representation itself. Whose perspective are we seeing from, and what does that imply? Curator: Absolutely. This sketch provides a fascinating glimpse into Sargent's process and invites us to consider the weight of symbolism embedded within the larger mural. Editor: It does, and how these depictions of anonymous bodies reflect larger structures of power.