Sketchbook: Portrait Sketches c. 1895 - 1901

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent’s Sketchbook: Portrait Sketches, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. My first thought? Pure, unadulterated potential. Editor: That's interesting! I'm drawn to the very tactile nature of it. You can almost feel the weave of the linen cover; think of the labor involved in its creation. Curator: Exactly! It’s like a silent stage, awaiting a performance. The texture alone suggests countless hours of observation, those fleeting moments captured in charcoal or pencil. Sargent’s mind, laid bare in portable form. Editor: The raw materials speak volumes, though. This isn't just about Sargent's genius; it's about the mills, the binders, the unseen hands that prepared this humble object for a master's touch. Curator: True, but imagine him, flipping through these pages, chasing light and shadow across a face, a gesture...the immediacy of it all! It's like eavesdropping on his artistic process. Editor: Still, I can’t help but think of the bookbinder, ensuring its longevity, contributing in their own way to art history. Curator: Well, whether it's the artist's vision or the maker's touch, it's a fascinating glimpse into the world of art. Editor: Absolutely. It's a reminder that art is never truly created in isolation.