Four Sketches of a Goat; verso: Head of a Cow c. 1910

Editor: So, this is John Singer Sargent’s "Four Sketches of a Goat," plus a cow on the back, done sometime in his lifetime. The sketches feel so immediate, capturing the essence of the animals with just a few lines. What do you see in this quick study? Curator: I see a glimpse into Sargent's process, his almost restless energy. Animals, particularly farm animals like goats and cows, often represent a connection to the land, to labor, and to a rural existence. Given Sargent’s social circles, how might we interpret his interest in these subjects? Editor: Maybe a look at lives outside his gilded world? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to question: Whose stories are being told and whose are often unseen? These sketches might be Sargent’s quiet nod to that very question. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way; it adds a whole new layer to simple animal sketches. Curator: Exactly! Art invites us to explore multiple narratives.