Study for Figure above "Music"
1920
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1920
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This charcoal drawing shows a woman seated on a round platform. Her left leg bends while her right arm rests lightly on her knee. The lines are loose but precise, catching her easy pose in just a few strokes. Sargent made this as a study for a bigger painting called *Music*. He often sketched first to work out poses before painting. The paper’s texture adds subtle grain to the charcoal, giving the figure depth without extra detail. Try looking up how Sargent used charcoal—he’s great at making quick marks feel alive. *Door: artist: Sargent, John Singer*
