Skirt and Feet of Mrs. Charles Thursby; verso: Sir Thomas Sutherland c. 1898

Curator: Sargent’s "Skirt and Feet of Mrs. Charles Thursby" is a study in graphite on paper. It’s a fragment, really. Editor: I find it incredibly intimate, almost voyeuristic. The angles, the cropped view...it's like glimpsing a private moment. Curator: It's interesting you say that because Sargent was known for his society portraits. This drawing feels like a backstage pass, a glimpse into the construction of an image. We see the folds of the fabric, the very foundations of her presence. Editor: And consider the labor, though. Each line, each stroke, contributing to the illusion of wealth and status. It's a record of the artist's hand, and the sitter's posture, all orchestrated for a specific effect. Curator: It makes you wonder about the unseen—what Mrs. Thursby’s full portrait might have revealed. Editor: Exactly. And how much material went into capturing and maintaining that image. I wonder what that skirt was made of... Curator: I’ll be thinking about the hidden effort behind appearances for a while. Editor: As will I, definitely. A study, indeed.